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LIBRARY  OF  THE  THEOLOGICAL  SEMINARY 


PRINCETON,    N.    J. 


Purchased  by  the 
Mrs.  Robert  Lenox  Kennedy  Church   History  Fund. 


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GERMANTOWN,  PHILA. 


PHILADELPHIA, 
1887. 


jjn^faa* 


In  the  early  history  of  the  children  of  Israel  is 
recorded  an  incident  which  is  at  once  interesting  and 
familiar  to  Bible  students.  In  response  to  the  fer- 
vent appeals  of  Samuel,  and  in  recognition  of  his 
burnt-ofPering,  a  great  victory  was  granted  to  the 
people  of  God  over  their  powerful  and  haughty 
foes, — the  Philistines.  To  celebrate  this  thrilling 
event,  and  to  rear  a  memorial  to  the  Divine  glory, 
^^  Samuel  took  a  stone,  and  set  it  between  Mizpeh 
and  Shen,  and  called  the  name  of  it  Eben-ezer,  say- 
ing, Hitherto  hath  the  Lord  helped  us.^' 

The  Arch  of  Titus,  Trajan's  column,  and  the  Arc 
de  Triomphe  are  memorials  whose  fame  is  world- 
wide, of  martial  victories  equally  famous.  If  the 
triumphs  which  have  crowned  the  clash  of  arms 
should  be  recounted  and  thought  worthy  of  monu- 
mental distinction,  if  they  be  the  occasion  of  congrat- 
ulation and  eulogy,  surely  the  victories  of  Prince  Em- 
manuel, the  growth  and  prosperity  of  His  Church, 
are  doubly  worthy  of  grateful  recognition.  In  the 
month  of  September,  1866,  the  Second  Baptist 
Church  of  Germantown,  Philadelphia,   was  organ- 


4  PREFACE.    ' 

ized  under  circumstances  peculiarly  favorable  and 
promising.  To  a  remarkable  degree  the  history  of 
the  Sunday-school  and  of  the  Church  has  been  inter- 
dependent. The  Church  grew  out  of  the  school,  and 
has  largely  drawn  therefrom  during  all  these  years 
the  additions  to  its  membership.  By  a  pleasing  co- 
incidence the  Church  completed  its  first  score  of 
years  and  the  Sabbath-school  superintendent  his 
quarter-century  of  service  about  the  same  time.  In 
view  of  tlie  wonderful  growth  and  prosperity  of  both 
Cliurch  and  school,  it  was  deemed  advisable  that 
these  anniversaries  should  be  jointly  celebrated  with 
appropriate  services.  Accordingly,  September  26 
and  27,  1886,  were  set  apart,  and  an  interesting 
programme  of  exercises  carried  out.  Large  gather- 
ings were  in  attendance,  friends  long  separated 
clasped  hands  again,  many  reminiscences  were  re- 
called, and  the  services  throughout  were  of  deep 
interest,  and  liave  left  very  grateful  memories.  A 
very  pleasing  feature  of  the  Sabbath-school  celebra- 
tion was  the  gift  from  the  officers  and  teachers  of  the 
school  of  a  beautiful  souvenir  to  the  beloved  super- 
intendent, Deacon  Charles  H.  Cummings. 

In  deference  to  the  earnest  desires  expressed  for 
some  permanent  memorial  of  these  services,  this  little 
volume  has  been  prepared. 


I 


onknfe* 


PAGE 

Invitation 7 

Programme 8-12 

Abstract  of  Sermon  of  Rev.  James  Lisk,  D.D.  .  13 
Abstract  of  Sermon  of  Rev.  William  P.  Hellings.  18 
Sketch  of  the  History  of  the  Sabbath-School  of 

the  Second  Baptist  Church  of  Germantown  .     22 

Historical  Address 30 

Anniversary  Poem 49 

In  Memoriam 52 

List  of    Officers    of   the    Church   and    Sabbath- 
School  AND  OF  Organizations       .         .         .         .07 


SECOND  BAPTIST  CHURCH,  GERMANTOWN. 


The  Celebration  of  the  Twentieth  Anniversary  of  the  for- 
mation of  this  Church  will  take  place  on  Monday,  September 
27,  1886.  Public  services  will  be  held  in  the  church,  after- 
noon and  evening. 

At  three  o'clock  there  will  be  an  Historical  Address  by  the 
Pastor,  and  a  Memorial  Address  also  will  be  delivered. 

From  6.45  to  7.45  p.m.  there  will  be  a  Keception  and  Social, 
when  letters  from  absentees  will  be  read,  followed  by  informal 
speeches. 

In  the  evening,  at  7.45,  addresses  may  be  expected  from  the 
former  pastors  and  others. 

The  previous  Sunday,  September  2G,  will  be  observed  as 
Sunday-school  Day,  with  exercises  of  unusual  interest.  De- 
signed as  a  Reunion  Service,  it  is  hoped  there  may  be  a  large 
gathering  of  the  past  and  present  members  of  the  school. 

You  are  hereby  cordially  invited  to  participate  with  us  in 
any  or  all  of  these  services. 

In  behalf  of  the  Church, 

Fraternally  yours, 

c.  h.  gummings, 
r.  v.  boswell, 
George  C.  Stokes, 
Thomas  Randall, 
Henry  F.  Scatchard, 

Co')ntnittee. 
Germantown,  September,  1886. 


8  TWENTIETH  ANNIVERSARY  OF 

SECOND  BAPTIST  CHURCH 

GERMKNTOMN.  PHILH. 

September    2Qt\\    t\nci    STtli,    18S6. 

• 
••• 

->!•  S  E  R  iZ  I  C  E  S  1^ 

CONNECTED  WITH   THE 


TMENTIETH 


KNNIiZERSKRY^ 


►^1  O  H  W  R  O  H  1^ 


Reunion  of  the  Members  and  Friends 


(PAST    KND    PRESENT) 


SUNDAY-SCPIOOIv. 


THE  SECOND  BAPTIST  CHURCH.  9 

Sunday,    Skpxenibkr    26xh:. 


10.30  A.K. 
Sermon Rev.  James  Lisk,  D.D. 


.30  P.M. 


{Reunion  oi  the   Sunday-school. 


Hymn. 

Invocation Pastor. 

Responsive  Readings. 
Chant. 

Prayer Ptov.  W.  P.  Hellings. 

Singing Infant  School. 

Historic  Sketch  of  the  School  ....  Ilev.  James  I^isk,  I).D. 
Hymn. 

Address Rev.  W.  P.  Hellings. 

Address Rev.  James  Lisk,  D.D. 

Hymn. 

Address Rev.  John  Love,  Jr. 


10 


TWENTIETH  ANNIVERSARY  OF 


Original  Hymn Pastor. 


Tune,  St.  George's  7s,  D. 


Benediction. 


Grateful  praises  now  we  bring 
To  our  lieaven-exalted  King, 
For  the  MeRSings  of  His  grace, 
For  the  Rniilintis  of  His  face. 
Tlirougrh  the  swiftly-gliding  years 
How  His  gracious  presence  cheers  ! 
Earth  no  Miss  fo  human  liearts 
Like  our  blessed  Christ  imparts. 

Souls  in  tender  love  are  bound, 
Hands  a  sacred  work  have  found  : 
Sei'ds  of  truth  have  liere  bpen  sown. 
Fruitful  harvests  we  have  known. 
Songs  from  new-born  souls  liave  thrillt'd, 
Lips  with  benedictions  filled  ; 
God  in  earthly  courts  hath  given 
Joys,  like  those  which  charm  in  heaven. 

Hear  our  festal  songs  to-day, 
Lord  of  Hosts,  we  humbly  pray  ; 
Gird  us  for  the  coming  time. 
Make  our  il<'eting  lives  sublime. 
All  we  have  or  yet  may  share 
We  surrender  to  Thy  care; 
All  we  are  or  hope  to  be 
Consecrate  we  now  to  Thee. 

Richer  blessings  may  we  know, 
Keener  zest  within  us  glow ; 
l?e,  0  Christ,  our  constant  guide. 
Let  us  never  leave  Tiiy  side. 
When  on  earth  no  more  we  roam. 
Welcome  us  to  heaven,  our  home; 
Teachers,  scholars,  let  us  share 
All  a  blest  reunion  there. 


7.45   P.M. 


Sermon 


Rev.  W.  P.  Helling.';. 

Ot^dinanee    of    Baptism. 


THE  SECOND  BAPTIST  CHURCH.  \\ 


ORDER  OF  EXERCISES 


3  P.M. 

Voluntary Choir. 

Scripture  Reading. 

Prayer, 

Hymn. 

HiSTORICAIi  ADDRES.S Pa.Stor. 

Memorial  Addres.s Rev.  James  Lisk,  D.D. 

Address Rev.  W.  P.  Hellings. 

Anthem Choir. 

Benediction. 

••• 

6.45   P.M. 

t^eeepfcion  and    Social. 

Addresses  by  Rev.s.  W.  W.  Everts,  W.  T.  Burns,  J.  C.  Wynn, 
and  otliers. 


7.45  P.M. 
Organ  Prelude, 
doxology. 
Hymn. 
Scripture  Reading. 


12  TWENTIETH  ANNIVERSARY  OF 

Prayer. 
Hymn. 

Address Rev.  James  Lisk,  D.D. 

Anniversary  Poem Pastor. 

Address  of  Congratulation Rev.  J.  W.  Willmarth. 

Original  Hymn Pastor. 

Tune,  Stillwater. 

With  joy  come  we  hither  glad  tributes  to  bring  ; 

Like  the  Magi  of  old  we  are  bending 
At  tlie  feet  of  our  glorious  Master  and  King, 

While  our  praise  to  His  throne  is  ascending. 

Rich  blessings  have  crowneil  this  dear  church  of  His  love 
Through  the  years  of  the  past  swiftly  moving  ; 

Bctliel  scenes  have  been  ours — sacred  fire  from  above, 
Fervent  prayers,  loving  labors  approving. 

To  the  toils  Thou  dost  call  how  gladly  we  press, 

With  Thy  banner  divino  floating  o'er  us! 
Wherever  Thou  lead,  if  Thy  pres«»nce  but  bless. 

We  will  shrink  not  from  trials  before  us. 

Thy  love  is  our  shield,  in  Thy  might  we  are  strong, 

By  Thy  grace  atid  Thy  favor  defended  ; 
Let  us  live  till  we  join  in  the  heavenly  throng, 

And  our  praise  with  the  atigeh'  is  blended. 

Benediction. 


THE  SECOND  BAPTIST  CHURCH.  13 


OF 

REV.  JAMES  LISK,  D.D. 


"  Glorious  things  are  si^okcn  of  tJiee,  O  city  oj  GocV — Ps, 
Ixxxvii.  3. 

The  world  of  the  past  has  known  three  cities, — 
Athens,  Kome,  and  Jerusalem.  Athens  was  the  seat 
of  learning,  the  arts  and  sciences.  Rome  of  juris- 
prudence and  state  polity.  Jerusalem  was  a  relig- 
ious centre.  Long  years  before  the  founding  of 
Rome,  God  gave  instructions  to  Moses  concerning 
the  building  of  the  Tabernacle.  This  was  super- 
seded by  the  Temple.  In  the  Holy  of  Holies  of 
this  grand  structure  God  dwelt.  But  since  the  Tem- 
ple was  for  the  Jew  only,  it  too  must  give  way. 
God  had  plans  larger  than  the  Jewish  race, — they 
were  world-wide.  But  since  God  was  pleased  to 
manifest  Himself  in  the  Temple,  as  aforetime  in  the 
Tabernacle,  the  city  distinguished  by  this  honor  was 
called  the  Holy  City,  or  the  City  of  God.  Tlie 
name  was  relative  and  typical.     It  pointed  to  the 


14  TWENTIETH  ANNIVERSARY  OF 

consummation  of  the  Divine  plan  as  seen  in  the 
Church.  The  rending  of  the  veil  at  the  death  of 
Jesus  symbolized  God's  gracious  purpose.  His 
gospel  should  be  cosmopolitan.  Henceforth  He 
would  know  Greek  as  well  as  Jew.  The  heart 
washed  in  the  precious  blood  of  His  dear  Son 
should  be  His  abode.  And  all  persons  thus  morally 
cleansed  should  constitute  His  Church.  And  so, 
changing  one  word  of  my  text,  we  have,  Glorious 
things  are  spoken  of  thee,  O  Church  of  God,  which 
is  really  the  underlying  thought. 

Let  us  glance  at  some  of  the  reasons  which  may 
aid  in  vindicating  to  our  minds  this  sublime  concep- 
tion of  the  Church.     And, 

1.  Because  the  Church  is  the  result  of  the  Divine, 
Eternal  Purpose,  it  may  most  properly  be  spoken  of 
as  glorious. 

2.  The  Church  is  glorious  if  we  have  regard  to 
the  fact  that  the  world  was  made  with  reference  to  it. 

The  thought  of  redemption  as  eternal  must  be 
developed  in  time.  Here  is  the  sublimest  possible 
conception  of  development.  Redemption  was  no 
after-thought,  therefore.  Although  the  material 
universe  be  vast,  little  is  said  of  it  in  the  Bible.  In 
the  account  of  creation  in  Genesis,  the  stellar 
heavens  are  disposed  of  in  a  very  few  words,  "  He 
made  the  stars  also."  God's  thought  was  on  His 
Church,  and  He  determined  that  by  the  Church 
should  be  made  known  to  principalities  and  powers 
in  heavenly  places  His  manifold  wisdom. 


THE  SECOND  BAPTIST  CHURCH,  I5 

God  ^^  created  all  things  by  Jesus  Christ,"  which 
surely  hints  that  the  Saviour  was  to  be  the  Centre 
and  the  Spliere  of  all  His  purposes. 

He  must  have  the  pre-eminence. 

3.  The  Church  is  glorious  if  we  have  regard  to 
the  price  paid  for  her  redemption. 

"For  ye  were  not  redeemed  with  corruptible 
things,  as  silver  and  gold,  .  .  .  but  with  i\\Q  precious 
blood  of  Christ,  as  of  a  lamb  without  blemish  and 
without  spot.'' 

This  is  to  disclose  pre-eminently  God's  love. 

Power,  wisdom,  goodness,  may  be  disclosed  in  cre- 
ation, but  redemption  reveals  God's  love.  "  In  this 
was  manifested  the  love  of  God  towards  us,  in  that 
God  sent  His  only-begotten  Son  into  the  world  that 
we  might  live  through  Him." 

4.  If  we  consider  that  the  history  of  the  world 
has  been  controlled  in  the  interests  of  the  Church, 
we  must  accord  that  she  is  glorious. 

There  was  a  marked  preparation  in  Old  Testa- 
ment times  for  the  coming  of  the  Messiah.  Not 
only  in  Judaism,  but  among  heathen  nations  as  well 
was  this  true. 

Witness  the  triumphs  of  Alexander,  by  which 
Greek  colonies  were  planted  in  the  East,  and  the 
Greek  language — the  most  beautiful — was  made 
ready  as  the  vehicle  of  God's  great  thoughts  of 
mercy. 

And  since  the  Christian  era,  "  the  earth  has  helped 
the  woman,"     God's  providence  has  dominated  all 


16  TWENTIETH  ANNIVERSARY  OF 

history  in  the  propagation  of  the  truth  as  it  is  in 
Jesus.  Persecutions,  martyrdoms,  discoveries,  in- 
ventions, God  is  in  all,  and  Jesus  Christ  must  reign 
until  He  hath  put  all  enemies  under  His  feet. 

5.  The  mission  of  the  Church  renders  her  worthy 
of  the  appellation  glorious. 

[a)  To  subdue  the  world  to  the  sway  of  the 
Prince  of  Peace. 

(6)  To  make  known  the  manifold  wisdom  of  God 
(Eph.  iii.  10). 

(c)  To  glorify  God. 

6.  Glorious,  since  all  her  members  are  in  God's 
sight  most  grandly  worthy, — children  of  God. 

Note  the  full  significance  of  verses  4,  5,  6.  ^'  Born 
twice,  die  once ;  born  once,  die  twice." 

God  seeks  character.  The  Divine  order  is  ^^ fird 
pure.''  "  Without  holiness  no  man  shall  see  the 
Lord." 

7.  Finally,  since  the  Church  shall  stand  forever, 
we  may  say  truly.  Glorious  things  are  spoken  of 
thee,  O  Church  of  God. 

In  410  Alaric  sacked  Rome.  The  pagans  charged 
the  new  religion  with  their  trouble.  Angnstine,  in 
his  masterpiece,  "  De  Civitate  Dei,"  showed  the 
Church  had  remained  unharmed, — whatever  else 
had  been  destroyed,  the  Church  survived.  It  is  a 
kingdom  which  cannot  be  removed.  It  contains 
principles  that  are  eternal.  It  grounds  itself  in  tlie 
undying  affections  of  the  soul. 


THE  SECOND  BAPTIST  CHURCH.  17 

"  Sure  as  Thy  truth  shall  last, 
To  Zion  shall  be  given 
The  brightest  glories  earth  can  yield , 
And  brighter  bliss  of  heaven." 

In  the  light  of  these  considerations  reflect : 

1.  We  need  have  no  apology  for  the  Church  of 
Christ.  '^  Spots  and  wrinkles"  may  mar,  but  they 
are  not  the  Church.  They  shall  cease  to  be  by  and 
by;  the  Church  shall  live  on,  for  she  is  the  Church 
of  the  living  God,  the  pillar  and  ground  of  truth. 

2.  We  may  well  esteem  it  an  honor  to  be  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Church  of  Christ,  to  have  even  a  humble 
place  and  to  take  an  unobserved  part  in  her  advance- 
ment. 

Zion  is  the  perfection  of  beauty.  Everything 
beautiful  and  precious  is  conserved  for  her  and  in 
her.  The  pomp  and  circumstance  and  glory  of 
earthly  kingdoms  shall  pass  away,  but  the  Church 
remains.  Our  toils  and  sacrifices,  under  God's 
blessing,  shall  minister  to  our  enduring  joy,  to  the 
Church's  upbuilding,  and  to  the  honor  and  glory  of 
our  Lord  and  Redeemer. 


18  TWENTIETH  ANNIVERSARY  OF 


JBslratl  0^  ^srmoit 

OP 

EEV.   WILLIAM  P.   HELLINGS. 


'■^  And  I  will  give  unto  thee  tlie  keys  of  the  kingdom  of  heaven." 
— Matt.  xvi.  19. 

When  Jesus  came  into  the  coasts  of  Csesarea 
Philippi  He  asked  His  disciples  two  deeply  interest- 
ing and  vitally  important  questions:  ^'TFAom  do  men 
say  that  I  the  Son  of  man  am  f  ^'  But  lohom  say  ye 
that  lamf  The  world's  opinion  and  the  Church's 
conviction  concerning  Christ. 

The  latter,  the  far  more  important  of  the  tw^o  in- 
quiries, was  so  answered  by  Peter,  '^Thou  art  the 
Christ,  the  Son  of  the  living  God,"  as  to  bring  from 
the  lips  of  Jesus  the  profound  and  suggestive  words, 
'^Blessed  art  thou,  Simon  Bar-jona:  for  flesh  and 
blood  hath  not  revealed  it  unto  thee,  but  my  Father 
which  is  in  heaven.  And  I  say  also  unto  tliee,  That 
thou  art  Peter,  and  upon  this  rock  I  will  build  my 
Church;  and  the  gates  of  hell  shall  not  prevail 
against  it.  And  I  will  give  unto  thee  the  keys  of 
the  kingdom  of  heaven  :  and  whatsoever  thou  shalt 
bind  on  earth  shall  be  bound  in  heaven  :  and  what- 


THE  SECOND  BAPTIST  CHURCH.  ]9 

soever  thou  shalt  loose  on  earth  shall  be  loosed  in 
heaven." 

These  words  give  us  the  clue  to  the  one  immov- 
able foundation,  and  the  invincible  and  irresistible 
power  of  the  Christian  Church.  Christ  divinely 
revealed  to  the  believer,  and  Christ  divinely  en- 
throned in  the  believer,  becomes  the  solid  and  rocky 
foundation,  and  the  triumphant  power  of  the  true 
Church  of  Christ;  a  Church  whose  only  legitimate 
constituency  is  of  believers  who  can  say,  out  of  a 
conviction  born  of  God,  "Thou  art  the  Christ,  the 
Son  of  the  living  God.'^  To  such  a  believer  and  to 
such  a  Church  Christ  announces  the  sacred  investi- 
ture of 

The  Keys  of  the  Kingdom  of  Heaven. 

In  our  study  of  this  profoundly  interesting  utter- 
ance of  our  Divine  Lord  let  us  inquire : 

First. — As  to  the  nature  and  significance  of  this 
holy  prerogative. 

(a)  It  is  in  the  nature  of  a  personal  Christ-life, 
manifesting  itself  in  a  personal  experience  of  the 
believer  in  Jesus  as  "  The  Chnd,  the  Son  of  the 
living  God.''  It  is  more  than  profession.  It  is 
possession.  It  is  more  than  creed  or  doctrine.  It  is 
life  and  gladsome  experience.  Not  so  much  the 
declaration  of  Christ  to  Peter  as  the  soulful  utter- 
ance of  Christ  in  Peter. 

(h)  As  a  prerogative  it  is  both  ac^ua^  and  represen- 
tative.    A  prerogative  to  be  actually  exercised   be- 


20  TWENTIETH  ANNIVERSARY  OF 

cause  actually  bestowed  for  that  purpose  by  Christ. 
A  prerogative  representative,  in  that  it  is  always 
to  be  exercised  on  Christ^s  behalf  and  under  His 
authority  and  direction.  Indeed,  its  possession  is 
conditioned  upon  such  a  vital  relation  to  Christ  as 
that  its  exercise  is  impossible  when  and  wdiere  that 
relation  does  not  exist. 

Second. — As  to  the  extent  of  this  high  and  holy 
investiture. 

(a)  Without  doubt  it  was  given  to  Peter.  This 
is  plainly  declared  in  the  text,  Matt.  xvi.  19.  Not 
to  Peter  alone,  however,  for 

(b)  It  was  bestowed  upon  the  apostles  generally 
(see  Matt.  x.  1-15,  40;  John  xx.  21-23)  and  upon 
The  Seventy  (see  Luke  x.  1-16). 

(c)  As  surely  was  the  gift  to  the  Church  as  a 
body  (see  Matt,  xviii.  15-18). 

(cZ)  Doubtless  also  to  every  true  believer,  and  to 
every  true  Church  of  Christ  in  all  time  (see  John 
xvii.  20-23). 

To  every  one  whose  heartfelt  confession  of  Christ 
is,  "  Thou  art  the  Christ,  the  Son  of  the  living  God,'' 
Jesus  says,  ^'  Unto  thee  will  I  give  the  keys  of  the 
kingdom  of  heaven.'^  Holy  endorsement !  Sacred 
privilege !     Serious  responsibility ! 

Third. — Consider  the  high  and  holy  privilege  be- 
longing to  the  believe^'  and  the  Church. 

(a)  To  unlock  the  kingdom  of  heaven  to  the  un- 
saved in  our  Sabbath-school  classes,  our  families,  and 
in  the  communities  about  us. 


THE  SECOND   BAPTIST  CHURCH.  21 

{h)  To  lead  iuto  the  fuller  eujoyment  of  Divine 
knowledge  and  grace  those  who  have  already  entered 
into  the  kingdom  of  heaven. 

(c)  To  protect  the  purity  and  thereby  the  power 

of  the  Church  of  Christ,  by  opening  its  doors  to  such 

only  as  possess  that  experimental  knowledge  of  Christ 

which   enables  them   to  say  to  Him   and  of   Him, 

'  Thou  art  the  Christy  the  Son  of  the  living  God." 

Fourth. — The  solemn  responsibility  which  this 
sacred  investiture  involves. 

(a)  To  watchfully  hold  the  keys.  Take  heed  that 
they  be  not  lost.  If  lost,  let  them  be  diligently 
sought  until  found. 

(b)  To  keep  them  bright  by  constant  use.  Too 
many  allow  the  keys  to  become  rusty  by  neglect. 

(c)  To  be  expert  in  their  use.  That  we  may 
quickly  and  skilfully  open  the  way  to  every  one  wdio 
seeks  to  enter  the  kingdom  of  heaven. 

Let  parents,  Sabbath-school  teachers.  Christian 
ministers,  and  the  Church  as  a  whole  see  to  it  that 
the  profoundly  sacred  gift  of  the  keys  is  gladly  ac- 
cepted, sacredly  guarded,  and  faithfully  employed, 
that  multitudes  may  enter  through  the  gates  into  the 
city  of  God. 


22  TWENTIETH  ANNIVERSARY  OF 


OF    THE 

SABBATH-SCHOOL   OF   THE   SECOND   BAPTIST 
CHURCH  OF  GERMANTOWN. 

BY   REV.   JAMES  LISK,   D.D. 


About  twenty-seven  years  ago  a  mission-school 
was  started  in  Franklin  Hall,  on  Main  Street, 
nearly  opposite  Church  Street.  Concerning  this 
school  the  records  are  meagre,  at  least  the  accessible 
records,  until  May  8,  1859. 

At  that  time  sixteen  scholars  and  seven  teachers 
were  convened,  and  the  little  enterprise  was  placed 
under  the  care  of  Mr.  Joseph  H.  Hawley,  a  member 
of  the  First  Baptist  Church  of  Germantown.  He 
was  succeeded,  September  11  of  the  same  year,  by 
Mr.  William  E.  Burk,  who  on  that  day  entered  upon 
the  duties  of  supei-intendent,  and  continued  in  that 
relation  about  two  years.  On  the  13th  of  October, 
1861,  following  the  resignation  of  Brother  Burk, 
Chas.  H.  Cummings,  for  seven  years,  prior  to  the 
spring  of  1860,  superintendent  of  the  Sabbath- 
school  of  the  Spruce  Street  Baptist  Church  of  Phil- 


THE  SECOND   BAPTIST  CHURCH.  23 

adelpliia,  was  iDvited  to  take  charge  of  the  school. 
There  were  present  eight  teachers  and  fifty-six 
scholars. 

In  the  work  which  thus  devolved  upon  him  he 
had  the  hearty  sympathy  and  earnest  support  of  his 
wife  and  his  wife's  sister,  also  of  Messrs.  Burness 
and  Bechtel,  and  of  Misses  Mary  Birchell,  Alice 
Lovett,  Ellen  Swain  (now  Mrs.  Coulter),  and  Kate 
Williams  (now  Mrs.  Joseph  Earnest).  Brother 
George  Nugent  occasionally  visited  the  school  and 
manifested  a  lively  interest  in  its  welfare. 

It  ought  here  to  be  stated  that  very  valuable  aid 
was  rendered  the  school — of  course,  in  an  indirect 
way — by  the  Word  preached  by  different  brethren, — 
Randolph,  Hand,  Spencer,  and  Hellings.  The  seed 
to  be  sown  is  the  Word  of  God.  In  all  ways  possible 
let  it  find  its  way  into  the  soil  of  the  heart. 

In  October,  1861,  an  infant  school — better  known 
in  more  recent  years  as  the  primary  school,  or  the 
primary  department  of  the  school — was  organized 
with  Miss  Matilda  Cheesham  as  teacher.  Her  suc- 
cessors in  this  honorable  service  have  been  Miss  J. 
S.  Stearn,  Mr.  G.  VV.  Peabody,  Miss  Sallie  Cox, 
and  Mrs.  Lizzie  J.  Coj^e.  Others  have,  at  least  for 
a  brief  time,  acted  in  this  relation.  These  served 
nobly  and  well. 

For  nearly  five  years  the  school  grew  in  interest 
and  numbers  under  the  faithful  and  devoted  leader- 
ship of  its  superintendent,  Brother  Cnmmings,  or  until 
September  20,  1866,  when  tliis  Church  was  consti- 


24  TWENTIETH  ANNIVERSARY  OF 

tuted,  at  which  time  the  school  had  200  scholars,  22 
teachers,  and  6  officers,  with  400  volumes  in  the 
library.  With  Wednesday,  the  13th  of  next  month, 
our  Brother  Cummings  will  have  completed  his 
full  quarter  of  a  century  of  service  as  superintendent 
of  this  Sunday-school, — i.e.,  counting  the  mission- 
school  in  Franklin  Hall  as  the  seed  out  of  which 
grew  the  rich  and  abundant  fruit  seen  and  repre- 
sented here  to-day. 

Whatever  may  be  said  of  long  pastorates,  and 
certainly  in  at  least  not  a  few  cases  they  are  an  inesti- 
mable blessing,  we  who  know  these  past  years  and 
to-day  behold  the  results,  heartily,  gladly  accord  that 
here  is  at  least  one  instance  of  untold  good  resulting 
from  a  long  term  as  Sunday-school  superintendent. 

The  indebtedness  of  this  school  to  its  superin- 
tendent cannot  be  known  till  eternity  shall  have 
unfolded  the  results  of  earthly  labors. 

Considering  the  long,  tender,  warm,  and  very  de- 
voted attachment  of  Brother  Cummings  to  this 
school,  we  may  speak  not  inappropriately  of  the 
relationship  as  a  marriage.  This  Anniversary  may, 
therefore,  be  regarded  as  also  a  silver- wedding.  May 
our  dear  brother  be  spared  yet  long  years  to  serve 
the  school  of  his  heart's  love,  and  late  enter  upon 
rest  and  the  glorious  reward,  with  a  crown  studded 
all  over  with  jewels  representing  the  precious  souls 
won  to  the  service  of  our  Lord !  For,  "  They  that 
be  wise  shall  shine  as  the  brightness  of  the  firma- 
ment," etc. 


THE  SECOND   BAPTIST  CHURCH.  25 

111  May,  1876,  the  school  had  grown  to  a  mem- 
bership of  390,  5  officers,  and  35  teachers.  This 
was  a  gain  to  within  a  fraction  of  one  hundred  per 
cent,  in  ten  years. 

Four  years  hiter,  or  in  May,  1880,  the  school 
n umbered  as  follows  : 

Officers         .         .         .         .         .         .         .11 

Teachers      .......       30 

Scholars .478 

Total 525 

The  amount  contributed  by  the  school  for  the 
year  was  $400.14. 

According  to  the  secretary's  annual  report  last 
jNIay,  the  contributions  of  the  school  for  all  purposes 
for  the  year  were  $1425.96. 

The  school  at  the  present  time  has 

Officers 12 

Teachers 42 

Scholars 552 

Grand  total 606 

The  library  contains  810  volumes.  What  a  mag- 
nificent showing  is  this  !  We  may  indeed  say,  ^^  Be- 
hold what  God  hath  wrought.  To  His  own  name 
be  all  the  honor,  praise,  and  glory !'' 

Of  course,  with  the  flow  of  time  many  changes 
have  occurred.  Some  have  been  called  to  their 
heavenly  home.  Not  a  few  who  were  scholars  years 
ago  have  met  in  themselves  with  a  most  radical 
change  from   nature  to  grace.      Their  conversion, 


26  TWENTIETH  ANNIVERSARY  OF 

followed  by  patient,  prayerful  study  of  the  Word, 
fitted  them  in  their  turn  to  open  and  expound  the 
Scriptures.  Thus  scholars  were  converted  into 
teachers.  Indeed,  what  a  kaleidoscopic  view  is  pre- 
sented by  the  history  of  a  Sunday-school  in  a  period 
of  ten  or  fifteen  years  !  I  was  impressed  afresh  with 
this  on  recently  looking  at  the  photographic  scene 
in  the  j)icture  of  the  infant  class,  taken  under  the 
administration  of  Brother  Peabody,  in  the  summer 
of  1873.  One  in  the  front  line  of  that  delightful 
group  was  dear  beyond  price  to  my  own  heart.  In 
the  winter  of  1882  and  '83,  a  little  past  twelve 
years  of  age,  she  gave  her  young  heart  to  the 
Saviour.  One  year  ago  last  April  she  sweetly  fell 
asleep  in  Jesus.  No  death  of  aged,  toil-worn  saint 
was  ever  more  beautiful,  peaceful,  and  triumj)hant. 

Yet  others  of  that  group  it  was  my  joy  to  lead 
doW'U  in  later  years  into  the  baptismal  waters.  They 
are  now  young  men  and  women,  and  are  entering 
upon  the  stern  duties  of  life. 

I  recall  gratefully  that  the  first-fruits  of  our  glo- 
rious revival  in  1872  was  a  mission  of  our  Sunday- 
school.  What  delightful,  sacred,  and  ever  to  be 
remembered  as  precious  seasons  were  those  in  suc- 
cessive years,  when  at  the  close  of  the  school,  after 
a  brief  and  solemn  season  of  prayer,  scholars  by 
request,  if  they  washed  to  be  conversed  and  prayed 
with,  would  file  into  the  ^'Bible-class  room,"  with 
tears  filling  their  eyes,  and  a  deep  and  earnest  long- 
ing for  the  great  salvation  filling  their  hearts !     The 


THE  SECOND  BAPTIST  CHURCH.  27 

Holy  Spirit  came  in  answer  to  prayer  and  faithful 
teaching.  God  blessed  His  Word.  ''  They  that  sow 
in  tears  shall  reap  in  joy." 

"  Thou  canst  not  toil  in  vain  ; 
Cold,  heat,  and  moist  and  dry 
SJiall  foster  and  mature  the  grain 
For  garners  in  the  sky," 

That  word  "shall"  is  not  the  exhibition  of  pre- 
sumption. It  is  more  than  the  rhetorician's  positive. 
We  have  a  divine  and  glorious  warrant  for  its  use  in 
our  work  as  Christians.  For  God  says  (Is.  Iv.  10, 
11),  "For  as  the  rain  cometh  down,  and  the  snow 
from  heaven,  and  returneth  not  thither,  but  watereth 
the  earth,  and  maketh  it  bring  forth  and  bud,  that 
it  may  give  seed  to  the  sower,  and  bread  to  the 
eater :  so  shall  my  word  be  that  goeth  forth  out  of 
my  mouth :  it  shall  not  return  unto  me  void,  but  it 
shall  accomplish  that  which  I  please,  and  it  shall 
prosper  in  the  thing  whereto  I  sent  it." 

The  history  of  this  Sunday-school  is  an  abundant 
vindication  of  the  sublime  truth  of  that  Divine  utter- 
ance. It  is  said,  "  Truth  is  stranger  than  fiction." 
And  so,  too,  is  truth  stronger-  than  fiction.  God 
asks,  What  is  the  chaff  to  the  wheat  ?  The  growth 
and  prosperity  of  this  school  hitherto,  and  its  high 
rank  and  influence  to-day,  are  due,  under  God^s 
blessing,  to  a  faithful  superintendent  and  a  devoted 
band  of  teachers.  It  has  been  a  Bible  school.  The 
Word  of  God  has  indeed  been  the  text-book.  There 
has  been  a  deep  and  earnest  longing  for  results.     Of 


28  TWENTIETH  ANNIVERSARY  OF 

course  such  longing  issued  in  prayer,  and  prayer 
brought  down  the  blessing  of  God. 

The  results,  therefore,  noted  to-day  are  natural  re- 
sults in  the  kingdom  and  patience  of  Jesus  Christ. 
Our  Lord  said,  "And  I,  if  I  be  lifted  up,  will 
draw.^^  He  has  been  lifted  up  here,  and  hence  the 
drawing  power. 

And  so,  it  must  be  said,  the  prosperity  of  the  Church 
has  been  largely  due  to  the  blessing  of  God  on  Bible- 
school  work.  Recruits  for  the  Church  have  come 
largely  from  the  school.  And  so,  friends,  we  should 
make  a  note  of  this  afresh, — God  puts  a  premium 
upon  faithful,  solid,  earnest,  ])rayerful  work.  I 
have  never  known  a  Sunday-school  where  there  was 
less  of  what  is  called  clap-trap,  gush,  or  sentiment. 
Very  Utile  has  been  done  for  mere  show  or  display. 
Scholars  have  been  drawn  and  held  by  the  real  in- 
terest taken  in  their  welfare.  The  scintillations  and 
beautiful  coruscations  of  the  aurora  borealis  may 
elicit  our  admiration  and  wonder,  but  they  are  evan- 
escent and  fleeting.  The  mushroom  is  good  and 
toothsome  because  it  is  a  mushroom, — the  creature 
of  a  night. 

I  think  it  was  A})elles  who,  when  asked  why  he 
painted  with  so  much  pains  and  care,  answered, 
^^  Because  I  paint  for  eternity."  And  workers  in  the 
Sunday-school — workers  for  Christ  everywhere — 
must  take  pains,  must  exercise  the  greatest  care, 
because  their  work  is  for  eternity. 

Now,  no  one  can  be  more  truly  certain  that  the 


THE  SECOND  BAPTIST  CHURCH.  29 

sketch  I  have  given  is  meagre  and  very  imperfect. 
Doubtless  much  ought  to  have  been  said  which  has 
not  been  said.  Persons  ought  to  have  been  mentioned, 
references  made,  and  events  noted  which  have  been 
passed  over.  But  where  could  one  stop  if  anything 
like  an  exhaustive  sketch  were  presented?  Indeed,  it 
would  not  then  be  a  sketch,  but  a  history. 

Your  honored  superintendent  would  heartily  accord 
his  commendation  to  his  teachers.  I  have  given  this 
in  saying  there  was  true  teaching.  No  general  can 
be  great  and  successful  whose  soldiers  are  traitors 
and  cowards,  and  no  superintendent  of  a  Sunday- 
school  can  do  grandly  unless  he  has  thorough, 
prayerful  support.  Interrogation  of  the  school's 
record  of  teachers  would  present  to  our  view  a  noble 
band  of  brethren  and  sisters.  Their  names  and  faces 
at  once  come  up  before  me.  But  to  suggest  some 
and  not  all  would  seem  unfair  discrimination.  The 
dear  Lord  knows  every  one,  and,  verily,  they  each 
and  all  shall  have  their  reward.  God  grant  that  in 
the  great  reunion  day  superintendent,  officers,  teach- 
ers, scholars,  all,  may  meet  in  unending  fellowship 
before  the  throne!  We  shall  then  recount  all  the 
Lord's  goodness,  to  the  praise  of  the  glory  of  sov- 
ereign grace. 


30  TWENTIETH  ANNIVERSARY  OF 


'isloritHl  jIhiirHS. 


BY  REV.   JOHN   LOVE,   JR. 


One  hundred  and  nine  years  ago  next  Monday, 
October  4,  occurred  an  event  which  gave  a  place  in 
American  history  to  Gerraantown.  The  battle  of 
Brandywine,  sometimes  called  the  battle  of  Chad's 
Ford,  was  fought  on  the  11th  of  the  preceding 
September.  By  a  skilful  manoeuvre  General  Howe 
with  a  force  of  British  fell  upon  the  right  of  the 
Americans  and  compelled  them  to  retreat,  with  the 
loss  of  one  thousand  men.  Among  the  wounded 
was  the  famous  Marquis  de  La  Fayette.  Following 
up  his  advantage,  the  British  general  steadily  ad- 
vanced, despite  all  the  efforts  of  AVashington,  and 
entered  Philadelphia  on  the  26th  of  September, 
quartering  there  four  regiments;  the  bulk  of  his 
army  was  encamped  in  our  immediate  vicinity. 
This  main  body  being  weakened  soon  after  by  the 
withdrawal  of  several  detachments  to  the  Delaware, 
was  attacked  by  Washington  before  sunrise  on  the 

■^  The  writer  acknowledges  his  indebtedness  to  Thomas  U. 
Walter,  LL.D.,  for  many  of  the  facts  contained  in  this  address, 
and  for  some  of  the  phraseology. 


THE  SECOND  BAPTIST  CHURCH.  3I 

morning  of  the  4th  of  October,  1777.  Victory  at 
first  seemed  to  be  promised  to  our  valiant  troops ; 
the  enemy  were  compelled  to  fall  back,  but  the 
Chew  mansion,  still  standing  in  our  immediate  vi- 
cinity, furnished  a  retreat  and  fortress  for  several 
British  regiments,  which  all  the  efforts  of  Greene's 
division  could  not  expel.  The  morning  proved 
dark  and  foggy,  the  several  sections  of  the  army 
became  separated,  and  Washington  was  unable  to 
communicate  with  the  heads  of  the  divisions.  In 
this  state  of  confusion  the  British  rallied  and  re- 
pulsed the  Americans  with  serious  loss. 

On  this  same  battle-ground  once  wet  with  the 
blood  of  twelve  hundred  martyrs  to  the  cause  of 
liberty,  within  a  short  distance  of  the  stone  house 
(yet  bearing  the  imprints  of  the  fray)  which  turned 
a  prospective  triumph  into  a  defeat,  we  meet  on  this 
glad  festal  day.  We  come  from  far  and  near  to 
render  thanks  to  Heaven  and  to  interchange  con- 
gratulations on  an  event  of  more  thrilling  interest, 
the  establishment  of  a  Church  of  Jesus  Christ, 
the  "  Prince  of  Peace,^^ 

The  prophecy  that  ^^the  sj)ear  shall  be  turned 
into  a  pruning-hook"  has  had  a  broader  fulfilment, — 
the  battle-ground  has  been  turned  into  a  sanctuary. 

Twenty-seven  years  ago  it  became  very  evident 
to  careful  observers  that  this  section  of  German- 
town  presented  an  inviting  field  for  Christian  work. 
In  order  to  enter  upon  its  cultivation  a  mission- 
school  was  begun  in  Franklin  Hall — a  frame  build- 


32  TWENTIETH  ANNIVERSARY  OF 

ing  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  avenue  but  a  little 
distance  from  our  gathering-place  to-day — on  the  8th 
of  May,  1859.  Seven  teachers  and  sixteen  scholars 
were  present,  and  the  school  was  placed  under  the 
superintendence  of  Mr.  Joseph  H.  Harley,  at  that 
time  a  member  of  the  First  Baptist  Church  of  Ger- 
mantown. 

The  then  pastor  of  the  Church,  Rev.  Warren 
Randolph,  opened  the  exercises  with  prayer,  and  de- 
livered an  appropriate  address.  Thus  was  begun 
the  enterprise  which  resulted  in  the  establishment  of 
the  Church  whose  twentieth  anniversary  we  to-day 
celebrate.  Upon  the  removal  of  Mr.  Harley  to  New 
York  a  few  months  afterwards,  Mr.  William  E.  Burk 
was  chosen  as  superintendent.  Preaching  services 
were  frequently  held  on  Sabbath  afternoons,  chiefly 
by  the  pastor  of  the  First  Church,  and  in  the 
months  of  May  and  September,  1860,  continuous 
meetings  during  the  week.  Through  the  Divine 
blessing  on  these  services  several  scholars  were  won 
to  Christ  and  united  with  the  First  Church. 

In  consequence  of  the  removal  of  Mr.  Burk  from 
this  place  he  resigned  the  superintendency  of  the 
school  on  the  17th  of  September,  1861,  after  a 
faithful  service  of  two  years,  whereupon  Mr.  Charles 
H.  Cummings,  a  member  of  Spruce  Street  Church, 
Philadelphia,  and  a  resident  of  Germantown,  was 
invited  to  fill  the  vacancy. 

The  new  superintendent  assumed  charge  of  the 
school    October    13,    1861,   and    has   continued   in 


THE  SECOND  BAPTIST  CIIURCIL  33 

that  position,  honored,  successful,  beloved,  during  a 
quarter  of  a  century.     At  the  beginning  of  his  ad- 
ministration there  were  eight  teachers  and  fifty-six 
scholars  and  a  newly-organized  infant  school  number- 
ing fifteen  scholars,  under  the  charge  of  Miss  Matilda 
Cheesham.    Such  was  the  efficient  management  of  the 
school  and  the  interest  awakened  thereby,  that  at  the 
time  of  the  constitution  of  the  new  Church  there 
was  an  enrollment  of  two  hundred  scholars,  twenty- 
two  teachers,  and  six  officers,  and  a  library  contain- 
ing four  hundred  volumes.     Regular  Sabbath  even- 
ing services  were  begun  in  Franklin  Hall  under  the 
auspices  of  the  school  on  the  26th  of  November, 
1865.     The  pulpit  was  regularly  supplied  by  city 
pastors  and  other  ministerial  brethren,  who  mani- 
fested no  little  interest  in  the  success  of  the  under- 
taking.    In  the  early  part  of  the  year  1866  it  be- 
came apparent  that  the  time  had  come  to  establish 
a  regular  Baptist  Church  organization  in  this  neigh- 
borhood.    With   this   object   in   view    Mr.   George 
Nugent,   a   member  of   the   Broad    Street    Baptist 
Church  of  Philadelphia,  and  Mr.  Charles  H.  Cum- 
mings  purchased  in  their  individual  capacity  a  portion 
of  the  Chew  estate,  a  section  of  the  old  battle-field, 
measuring  one  hundred  and  thirty-one  feet  on  Ger- 
man town  Avenue,  three  hundred  and  sixty-eight  feet 
on  Upsal  Street,  and  one  hundred  and  thirteen  feet 
on  Morton  Street,  containing  considerably  more  than 
an  acre  of  ground. 

Designs  were  secured  for  a  complete  church  edi- 


34  TWENTIETH  ANNIVERSARY  OF 

fice  and  coiiDecting  chapel^  with  all  the  appurte- 
nances usual  in  modern  church  architecture. 

Adapting  themselves  to  the  needs  of  the  neigh- 
borhood, tliey  concluded,  however,  to  limit  the  work 
at  that  time  to  the  erection  of  the  chapel  in  which 
four  hundred  or  more  persons  could  be  accommo- 
dated. 

The  entire  responsibility  of  this  enterprise  was 
assumed  by  Brethren  Nugent  and  Cummings;  they 
paid  cash  for  the  ground,  having  purchased  it  in  fee- 
simj)le,  and  furnished  the  funds  for  the  building  as 
it  progressed,  trusting  to  the  Church  which  should 
subsequently  be  gathered  for  tlie  reimbursement  of 
their  outlay,  less  their  own  large  and  generous  sub- 
scriptions. In  October,  1871,  these  same  brethren 
made  a  proposition  to  tlie  Church,  involving  a  sur- 
render, on  certain  easy  conditions,  of  all  their  claims 
against  the  Church,  amounting  to  about  fifteen  thou- 
sand dollars  over  and  above  their  original  subscrip- 
tions. Through  this  munificent  offer,  gratefully  ac- 
cepted, the  Church,  after  an  existence  of  but  five 
years,  was  possessed  of  a  property  free  of  all  encum- 
brance which  had  cost  about  forty  thousand  dollars. 

The  corner-stone  of  the  chapel  was  laid  on  the 
12th  day  of  May,  1866,  with  appropriate  religious 
ceremonies,  in  the  presence  of  a  large  concourse  of 
citizens,  on  which  occasion  addresses  were  delivered 
by  J.  Wheaton  Smith,  D.D.,  G.  D.  Boardman,  D.D., 
P.  S.  Henson,  D.D.,  and  the  pastor  of  the  First 
Church,  Rev.  A.  H.  Lung.     As  the  building  ap- 


THE  SECOND   BAPTIST  CHURCH.  35 

proached  completion  Brethren  Nugent  and  Cuni- 
mings,  who  up  to  this  time  had  been  without  any 
ostensible  coadjutors  in  this  enterprise,  invited  the 
members  of  regular  Baptist  Churches  residing  in 
Germantown,  who  were  willing  to  co-operate  in  form- 
ing a  new  church  in  this  locality^  to  meet  in  Frank- 
lin Hall  on  the  14th  of  September,  1866.  At  the 
meeting  held  in  pursuance  of  this  invitation  thirty- 
two  members  of  regular  Baptist  Churches  signified 
their  readiness  to  unite  in  this  undertaking  ;  of  these, 
six  were  from  the  Spruce  Street  Church  of  Philadel- 
})hia,  three  from  the  E  Street  Church  in  Washington, 
D.  C,  one  from  the  Broad  Street  Church  in  Phila- 
delphia, one  from  the  Church  at  Ivoxbury,  fifteen 
from  the  First  Church  at  Germantown,  one  from 
the  Calvary  Church  at  Philadelphia,  two  from  the 
Church  at  Chestnut  Hill,  and  three  from  the  Church 
at  Norristown,  Pennsylvania.  Preliminary  measures 
were  ado|)ted  for  the  purpose  of  carrying  out  the 
objects  of  the  meeting,  and  an  adjournment  took 
})lace  to  Thursday  evening,  September  20,  at  which 
time  a  regular  church  organization  was  effected 
under  the  name  of  the  '^  Second  Baptist  Church 
of  Germantown,  Pennsylvania."  A  Church  Cove- 
nant and  Articles  of  Faith,  in  conformity  with  the 
doctrines  held  by  the  Baptist  denomination,  were 
adopted,  and  Church  officers  elected.  On  the  fol- 
lowing Sabbath,  September  23,  public  worship  was 
commenced  in  the  Town  Hall.  With  a  view  to 
the  recognition  of  the   body  thus  constituted  as  a 


36  TWENTIETH  ANNIVERSARY  OF 

regular  Baptist  Church,  a  Council  was  convened  by 
invitation,  in  the  meeting-house  of  the  First  Baptist 
Church  of  Germautown,  on  the  afternoon  of  tlie 
27th  day  of  September,  1866.  Thirty-one  delegates 
were  present,  representing  fourteen  of  the  neighbor- 
ing Baptist  Churclies, — viz.,  First,  Germantown; 
First,  Philadelphia;  First,  West  Philadelphia; 
Broad  Street,  Philadelphia;  Chestnut  Hill;  Elev- 
enth, Philadelphia;  Falls  of  Schuylkill;  Fifth, 
Philadelphia;  Milestown  Church,  Boxboi'ough  ;  and 
Spruce  Street,  Tabernacle,  and  Tenth  Church, — all 
of  Philadelphia.  The  Council  was  organized  by  the 
appointment  of  Eev.  J.  H.  Castle,  D.D.,  as  moder- 
ator, and  Rev.  David  Spencer  as  clerk.  The  Church 
Covenant  and  the  Articles  of  Faith  adopted  by  the 
new  oi'ganization  were  read  and  approved  by  the 
Council,  and,  after  careful  inquiry  and  full  discussion, 
it  was  unanimously  resolved  to  recognize  this  body  as 
a  regular  Baptist  Church,  llecognition  services  took 
place  in  the  evening,  just  twenty  years  ago  to-day. 
The  programme  carried  out  was  as  follows : 

PvEADiNG  OF  Til K  Scriptures.  By  Kov.  J.  E.  Chessliire. 

''  Thonnis  Winter,  D.D. 

"  P.  IS.  Honson. 

"  G.  D.  I3oarclnian,D.D. 

"  A.  H.  Lung. 

"  J   H.  Castle,  D.U. 

"  J.N.  Brown,  D.D. 


Prayer  .... 
Sermox  .... 
Prayer  of  Recognition 
Hand  of  Fellowship  .  - 
Charge  to  the  Church 
Benediction  . 


On  the  3d  of  October  the  Church  united  with  the 
Philadelphia   Baptist  Association.     On  the  4th   of 


THE  SECOND  BAPTIST  CHVRCIL 


37 


the  following  December  the  new  chapel  was  dedi- 
cated to  the  service  of  Almighty  God.  A  congratu- 
latory meeting  was  held  on  the  afternoon  of  that  day 
by  the  city  ministers,  after  which  the  congregation 
partook  of  a  sapper  prepared  by  the  ladies  of  the 
Church.  A  very  pleasing  feature  of  the  service  was 
the  gift  of  a  handsome  Bible  for  the  pulpit.  The 
donor.  Miss  Salome  Stearn,  was  a  granddaughter  of 
one  who  fought  under  Washington  on  the  very  spot 
now  occupied  by  the  chapel.  In  her  name  Dr. 
Castle,  of  West  Philadelphia,  presented  it  to  the 
Church  with  suitable  remarks,  Dr.  Smith,  of  Spruce 
Street,  responding  on  behalf  of  the  Church.  The 
dedicatory  services  held  that  same  evening  were  as 
follows : 


Invocation    . 
Scripture  Heading 
Prayer  . 
Sermon  . 

Dedicatory  Prayer 
Benediction  . 


By  Eev.  J.  H.  Castle,  D.D. 
'•       "      J.  B.  Simmons. 
"       "     P.  S.  Hensoii. 
"       "      J.  Wlieaton  Smith,  D.D. 

"      G.  D.  Boardman,  D.D. 
"       "      J.  Newton  Brown,  D.D. 


On  the  following  Thursday  evening,  being  the 
6th  of  December,  1866,  the  Sunday-school  removed 
from  its  old  quarters  in  Fraid^lin  Hall  and  held  its 
Anniversary  in  the  new  chapel.  A  corps  of  teachers 
and  two  hundred  scholars  were  in  attendance.  The 
Church  celebrated  its  first  communion  December  9, 
1866,  and  thus  with  organization  complete  it  inaug- 
urated its  mission  of  usefulness   and    influence  by 


38 


TWENTIETH  ANNIVERSARY  OF 


partaking  of  the  symbols  of  tlie  dying  love  of  the 
Redeemer.  The  names  of  the  constituent  members 
of  the  Church  are  as  follows  : 


Gp:orge  Nugent, 
Charles  H.  Cummings, 
Annie  R.  Cummings, 
Louisa  W.  Cummings, 
Stephen  Coulter, 
Sarah  E.  Coulter, 
George  E.  Carter, 
Thomas  U.  Walter, 
Amanda  G.  Walter, 
Ida  Walter, 
William  W.  Patton, 
George  W.  Derr, 
Martha  Derr, 
Anna  E.  IIinkle, 
Anna  S.  H  inkle, 
John  Neilson, 


Mary  Neilson, 
Thomas  Neilson, 
Susan  M.  Neilson, 
Margaret  Neilson, 
John  H.  Eorer, 
Eliza  Ashton, 
Jane  Campbell, 
Carrie  E.  King, 
Charles  K.  King, 
Elizabeth  Wolf, 
Sarah  V/entz, 
William  Hinman, 
Caroline  Hinman, 
Caroline  H.  Hinman, 
Joanna  Salome  Stearn. 


The  first  one  to  receive  the  hand  of  fellowship 
into  this  new  organization  was  our  Brother  Henry  S. 
Rorer,  who,  with  his  wife,  Mrs.  Mary  A.  Rorer, 
came  by  letter  from  the  Milestown  Baptist  Church. 

The  first  year  of  the  new  Church  was  crowned 
with  rich  blessings,  forty-four  receiving  the  rite  of 
baptism  and  sixteen  being  added  by  letter,  swelling 
the  total  number  to  ninety-two,  nearly  trebling  its 
membership.  Marked  success  attended  likewise  the 
labors  of  the  faithful  superintendent,  Mr.  Charles  H. 
Cummings,  and  his  attached  coadjutors  in  the  de- 
partment of  Sunday-school  work.   The  infant  school 


THK  SECOND  BAPTIST  CHURCH.  39 

during  this  eveiitful  year  grew  rapidly  under  the  ju- 
dicious care  and  fidelity  of  Sister  Salome  Stearn,  en- 
rolling an  attendance  at  one  time  of  sixty-four  scholars. 
It  was  the  privilege  of  the  first  pastor,  Rev.  W.  P. 
Hellings,  to  guide  and  aid  the  Church  in  securing 
the  gracious  results  we  have  noted  during  the  greater 
part  of  this  notable  year.  Hi^  efficiency  is  gratefully 
recognized  in  the  annals  of  the  Church.  The  call 
of  Brother  Hel lings,  unanimously  extended,  bears 
date  February  7,  1867;  his  acceptance  followed  one 
week  thereafter.  On  the  26th  of  the  same  month 
he  was  publicly  ordained  to  the  work  of  the  ministry, 
having  been  cordially  approved  by  the  Council,  which 
met  on  the  afternoon  of  that  date.  In  the  services 
of  ordination  Kev.  W.  W.  Case  offered  the  invo- 
cation;  Rev.  W.  H.  Conard  read  the  Scriptures; 
Rev.  R.  S.  Thorn  led  in  prayer ;  Rev.  P.  S.  Henson 
preached  from  Col.  i.  28 ;  Rev.  J.  N.  Brown  offered 
the  prayer  of  ordination ;  Rev.  David  Spencer 
extended  the  hand  of  fellowship ;  Revs.  William 
Wilder  and  J.  B.  Simmons  delivered  the  charges 
respectively  to  the  candidate  and  to  the  Church. 
Brother  Hellings  having  at  that  time  a  place  on  the 
roll  of  the  Broad  Street  Church,  Philadelphia,  the 
call  for  the  Council  was  issued  by  that  Church  ;  the 
services,  however,  of  Council  and  ordination  were 
held  with  the  new  charge  of  the  pastor-elect.  Well 
endowed  by  natural  gifts,  and  having  enjoyed  the 
rare  advantages  of  culture  furnished  by  the  Univer- 
sity and  the  Theological  Seminary  at  Rochester,  the 


40  TWENTIETH  ANNIVERSARY  OF 

uew  pastor  began  his  relations  with  the  new  and  enter- 
prising Church  under  very  auspicious  circumstances. 
During  his  pastorate  about  one  hundred  were  added 
to  its  membership,  and  that  in  a  time  when  its  field 
was  necessarily  limited  by  a  very  sparse  population. 

Brother  Hellings  terminated  his  pastorate  near 
the  close  of  the  year  1869,  and  we  extend  our  cordial 
greetings  to  him  to-day  as  not  only  the  first  pastor 
of  this  Church,  but  the  present  pastor  of  one  of  the 
most  vigorous  churches  in  Wisconsin. 

For  the  period  of  five  months  the  pastorate  was 
vacant,  when,  in  the  providence  of  God,  the  attention 
of  the  Church  was  turned  to  the  Rev.  James  Lisk, 
of  Hinsdale,  Illinois,  a  graduate  of  Denison  Univer- 
sity, Ohio,  and  of  Rochester  Theological  Seminary, 
New  York.  On  the  25th  of  April,  1870,  an  unani- 
mous call  was  extended  to  Brother  Lisk,  which  was 
duly  accepted,  his  pastoral  relation  to  begin  with 
the  1st  of  June.  The  services  of  installation  took 
])lace  in  the  chapel  on  Tuesday  evening,  June  21, 
1870.  The  sermon  on  the  occasion  was  delivered 
by  Rev.  Dr.  Henson,  who  from  the  very  first  was  a 
warm  friend  of  the  Church.  Rev.  Drs.  J.  Wheaton 
Smith,  W.  Randolph,  L.  Moss,  and  others  took 
prominent  parts  in  the  service,  while  tlie  hand  of 
welcome  and  fellowship  was  extended  by  the  Rev. 
A.  H,  Lung  of  sainted  memory. 

Thus  began  a  pastorate  of  thirteen  years  which 
inaugurated  a  new  era  in  the  history  of  the  Church, 
full  of  interesting  incident,  of  vigorous  enterprise. 


THE  SKCOND   BAPTIST  CHURCH.  41 

of  steady  growth,  and  cheering  results.  The  mem- 
bership, which  had  been  somewhat  depleted,  num- 
bered at  that  time  about  one  hundred.  The  prop- 
erty of  the  Church  was  materially  improved,  its 
value  enhanced,  and  the  comfort  of  the  pastor  and 
family  provided  for  by  the  erection  of  a  commodious 
parsonage,  which  was  occupied  about  the  1st  of  July, 
1871.  The  letter  sent  to  the  Association  in  the  fol- 
lowing October  was  full  of  cheer  and  gratitude  upon 
the  temporal  and  spiritual  prosperity  of  the  Church. 
A  gracious  season  of  revival  was  enjoyed  during  the 
early  part  of  the  year  1872,  through  the  influence  of 
which  upwards  of  forty  were  added  to  the  Church 
on  confession  of  faith ;  among  this  number  were 
several  who  have  since  become  honored  office-bearers 
and  Sunday-school  helpers.  The  five  succeeding 
years  were  likewise  very  fruitful  in  results,  the  num- 
ber of  baptisms  reaching  forty-two  in  the  year  1877. 
In  the  month  of  January,  1874,  the  treasurer,  by 
vote  of  the  Church,  was  appointed  to  receive  contri- 
butions towards  the  erection  of  the  main  edifice,  thus 
creating  a  "  building  fund."  Not,  however,  till  the 
early  part  of  the  year  1881  were  active  measures 
taken  to  reach  the  desired  end.  Deacon  George 
Nugent  being  exceedingly  anxious  to  see  the  work 
commenced  and  accomplished  before  the  Lord  called 
him  home  (possibly  having  a  premonition  that  his 
pilgrimage  was  nearly  run),  made  a  very  generous 
offer,  which  was  accepted  by  the  trustees  on  behalf 
of  the  Church.     Accordingly,  designs  and  specifica- 


42  TWENTIETH  ANNIVERSARY  OF 

tions  for  a  new  sanctuary  were  procured  and  adopted, 
and  on  the  12th  day  of  March,  1881,  work  was  com- 
menced, and  the  corner-stone  of  the  building  was 
laid  on  the  2d  day  of  May  following,  by  Deacon 
Nugent,  with  appropriate  religious  ceremonies,  in 
the  presence  of  a  large  concourse  of  citizens.  The 
weather  being  un})ropitious,  the  preliminary  exer- 
cises were  held  in  the  chapel.  The  order  of  service 
was  as  follows:  Anthem,  by  the  choir;  invocation, 
Rev.  J.  D.  King  ;  reading  of  the  Scriptures,  by  Rev. 
J.  O.  Critchlow ;  anthem,  by  the  choir ;  addresses  by 
Rev.  L.  P.  Hornberger  and  B.  D.  Thomas ;  anthem ; 
addresses  by  Dr.  Henson  and  Pastor  James  Lisk. 
An  original  hymn,  coniposed  by  a  member  of  the 
Church,  Hon.  Charles  Thurber,  was  sung  by  the 
congregation.  The  corner-stone  was  then  laid  by 
the  senior  deacon,  George  Nugent,  and  the  Divine 
blessing  on  the  new  enterprise  was  besought  by  the 
pastor  of  Spruce  Street  Church,  Rev.  W.  S.  Roberts. 
On  the  19th  day  of  December,  1882,  our  main  edi- 
fice was  dedicated  to  the  worship  of  Almighty  God. 
A  sermon  was  delivered  on  the  occasion  by  Rev. 
Dr.  AYeston,  President  of  Crozer  Theological  Semi- 
nary, and  the  prayer  of  dedication  offered  by  Rev. 
George  E.  Rees,  of  Philadelphia. 

Asa  pleasing  ex})ression  of  the  Christian  fellowship 
and  interest  of  other  denominations  in  our  enterprise, 
the  Rev.  J.  W.  Teal,  of  the  Second  Presbyterian 
Church  of  Germantown,  preached  a  sermon  in  the 
new  church  on  the  Wednesday  evening  following. 


THE  SECOND  BAPTIST  CHURCH.  43 

Six  months  from  that  time  (June  25,  1883)  sad 
funeral  rites  were  here  observed,  and  the  Church,  so 
blessed  from  its  earliest  history  by  the  counsels  and 
love  of  Deacon  Nugent,  gathered  round  his  bier,  with 
a  sense  of  bereavement  deeper  than  is  often  known. 

The  memory  of  the  just  is  blessed ;  the  memory 
of  Deacon  Nugent  is  an  inspiration  as  v/ell.  A 
lovinar  and  extended  tribute  to  his  worth  and  work 
would  at  once  be  expected  of  and  grateful  to  myself, 
were  it  not  tliat  such  a  service  has  been  intrusted  to 
another,  who  can  speak  not  only  as  a  historian,  but 
out  of  the  rich  memories  of  a  personal  fellowship, 
which  it  was  not  my  privilege  to  enjoy. 

On  the  18th  day  of  May,  1883,  i\\Q  pastor,  Eev. 
James  Lisk,  D.D.,  after  a  long  and  successful  term 
of  service,  resigned  his  charge  to  enter  upon  the  im- 
portant and  responsible  position  of  secretary  of  the 
Baptist  Publication  Society  for  the  District  of  New 
York  and  Vicinity.  Consecrated  in  spirit,  possessed 
of  a  love  for  Christ  at  once  tender  and  strong,  loyal 
to  the  truth,  and  able  in  its  presentation,  with  sym- 
pathies quick  and  generous,  that  made  him  a  blessing 
to  the  sorrowing,  the  tried,  the  tempted,  with  an  ab- 
sorbing interest  in  the  welfere  of  tlie  Church,  the 
thirteen  years  of  Brother  Lisk's  pastorate  were  rich 
in  results  and  permanent  in  influence  for  good.  The 
regard  of  the  Cfiurch  for  the  retiring  pastor  found 
expression  in  tlie  following  minute : 

"  Besolved,  That  the  thirteen  years  of  efficient 
and  successful  pastoral  labor  among  us  has  endeared 


44  TWENTIETH  ANNIVERSARY  OF 

Brother  Lisk  to  our  hearts,  and  we  will  ever  re- 
member with  affection  his  labor  of  love. 

^'Resolved,  That  we  tender  him  our  cordial  and 
best  wishes  for  liis  success  in  the  new  field  of  labor  to 
which  he  is  called,  and  will  ever  cherish  the  fondest 
recollections  of  his  life  and  services  among  us.'^ 

The  Church  was  without  a  pastor  for  a  few 
months,  and  then  extended  an  unanimous  call  to  the 
present  incumbent  on  the  evening  of  October  5, 
1883.  The  closing  of  his  pastorate  in  Chelsea, 
Massachusetts,  and  the  beginning  of  this  relation- 
ship, bears  date  November  1,  1883. 

The  services  of  his  installation  were  observed 
December  13  following;  Eev.  Dr.  Edward  Lathrop, 
of  Connecticut,  delivering  the  sermon  on  the  occa- 
tion.  Rev.  Brethren  Peddie,  Ray,  Wright,  and 
others  participated  in  tlie  exercises. 

Of  the  loyalty,  the  earnestness,  and  uniform  fidel- 
ity of  the  membershi])  of  this  Church  during  the 
nearly  three  years  of  his  service  the  pastor  would 
make  glad  and  grateful  mention.  The  Divine  bless- 
ing has  crowned  our  common  toil  with  very  cheering 
results.  For  some  years  past  it  has  been  very  ap- 
parent that  the  services  of  a  Sabbath-school  visitor 
might  be  of  great  benefit  to  the  community  and  en- 
able the  school  to  fulfil  its  mission,  as  would  scarcely 
be  possible  otherwise.  The  peculiar  qualifications 
requisite  for  such  a  work  seemed  possessed  in  an 
unusual  degree  by  the  father  of  the  pastor,  who  for 
thirty-four  years  had  been  engaged  in  missionary 


THE  SECOND  BAPTIST  CHURCH.  45 

duties  in  the  city  of  New  York,  the  last  seven  of 
which  liad  been  spent  in  aiding  in  the  pastoral  work 
of  Rev.  Dr.  Mac  Arthur,  of  the  Cavalry  Baptist 
Ciiurch  of  that  city.  By  a  rising  and  unanimous 
vote  Mr.  John  Love,  Sr.,  was  elected  to  the  offices 
of  associate  j)astor  and  Sabbath- school  visitor  on  the 
evening  of  June  12,  1885.  It  is  believed  that  the 
relationship  thus  formed  between  son  and  father  is 
entirely  unique  and  has  never  before  been  known. 
Having  in  the  interim  transferred  his  membership 
to  this  Churcii  prior  to  entering  on  his  appointed 
work,  a  Council  was  called  on  September  30,  1885, 
to  consider  the  propriety  of  ordaining  Mr.  Love  to 
the  ministry,  which  lie  had  been  exercising  under 
the  limitations  of  a  license  bearing  date  September, 
1853.  Thirteen  Churches  were  represented  in  the 
Council,  which  was  organized  by  the  election  of  Dr. 
J.  G.  Walker  as  moderator  and  Rev.  E.  H.  Bronson 
as  clerk. 

With  entire  unanimity  the  Council  voted  to  pro- 
ceed to  the  services  of  ordination  on  the  evening 
of  that  day.  The  sermon  was  delivered  by  Rev. 
Dr.  MacArthur,  of  New  York.  The  prayer  of 
ordination  was  offered  by  Rev.  Dr.  Evans,  of  the 
Tenth  Church.  The  hand  of  fellowship  was  ex- 
tended by  the  son  of  the  candidate.  Brethren 
Everts  and  Bronson  assisted  in  the  service. 

In  accordance  with  the  practice  generally  adopted 
in  Baptist  Churches,  the  office  of  deacon  is  a  per- 
manent one  with  us,  appointment  holding   during 


46  TWENTIETH  ANNIVERSARY  OF 

the  term  of  membership.  On  the  20th  of  Septem- 
bcr^  1866,  Brethren  George  Nngent,  Charles  H. 
Cummings,  and  Stephen  Coulter  were  chosen  as  the 
first  Board  of  Deacons  of  the. new  Church.  James 
K,.  Speir,  Richard  V.  Boswell,  Thomas  Randall, 
George  C.  Stokes,  and  Henry  F.  Scatcliard  have 
since  been  elected  to  this  responsible  office,  eight  in 
all.  Deacons  IN'ugent,  Coulter,  and  Speir  represent 
us  in  the  Church  triumphant,  the  others  are  our 
honored  office-bearers  to-day,  loved  by  the  Church 
and  devoted  to  its  welfare. 

At  the  time  of  its  organization  the  Church  num- 
bered 32;  431  have  been  baptized,  175  have  joined 
by  letter,  and  22  by  experience,  making  a  total  of 
660  names  that  have  been  enrolled  in  the  member- 
ship of  this  Church  during  its  history.  Our  present 
membership  numbers  425.  There  has  been  raised 
by  the  Church  during  these  twenty  years  for  all 
purposes  the  amount  of  about  $150,000.  The  ])rop- 
erty  of  which  it  is  possessed  is  valued  at  §82,000,  or 
upwards,  and  is  entirely  free  of  debt. 

During  the  year  past  a  Missionary  Society  has 
been  organized,  which  is  quickening  the  sympathies 
of  the  Church,  enlarging  its  knowledge  of  and  its 
offerings  for  the  various  objects  which  lay  claim  to 
our  benevolence.  Special  mention  must  be  made  of 
the  Ladies'  Mite  Society,  which,  organized  in  April, 
1867,  has  proved  a  great  blessing  to  the  Church, 
and  is  still  a  most  valuable  aid  in  a  variety  of  ways. 
While  there  has  not  been  a  year  in  the  history  of 


THE  SECOND  BAPTIST  CHURCH.  47 

this  people  which  has  lacked  that  emphatic  seal  of 
the  Divine  approval,  the  conversion  of  sonls,  grate- 
fully do  we  record  the  five  Pentecostal  seasons  en- 
joyed in  1867,  1872,  1877,  1883,  and  1885.  A 
striking  feature  of  these  gracious  ingatherings  was 
the  large  proportion  representing  the  Sunday-school* 
Of  44  baptisms  reported  in  1867,  32  were  connected 
with  the  school.  41  of  the  47  received  in  1872  and 
44  of  the  54  added  in  1885  likewise  w^ere  members 
of  the  school.  The  Church  grew  out  of  the  school ; 
the  success  of  the  former  has  been  in  large  measure 
due  to  that  of  the  latter.  They  have  sustained  an 
interdependent  and  always  loving  relationship  with 
each  other. 

Through  all  these  twenty  prosperous  years,  whose 
completion  we  celebrate  to-day,  and  for  five  years 
previous  to  the  organization  of  the  Church,  the  school 
has  been  nobly,  faithfully,  and  wisely  superintended 
by  Deacon  Charles  H.  Cummings,  between  w^hom 
and  teachers,  officers,  and  scholars  alike,  there  has 
always  existed  an  attachment  such  as  is  rarely  found. 
To  him,  under  God,  have  been  largely  due  the  rich 
blessings  with  which  the  school  has  been  crowned. 
Faithful  and  highly-esteemed  coadjutors  has  he  found 
during  these  eventful  years  in  Sister  Salome  Steam, 
Sister  S.  J.  Cox,  Miss  Sliingle  (now  Mrs.  Sturges), 
Brother  George  W.  Peabody,  and  Mrs.  Joseph  B. 
Cope,  who  have  served  as  superintendents  of  our 
Infant  Department. 

Within  two  years  past  the  field  occupied  by  this 


48  TWENTIETH  ANNIVERSARY  OF 

Church  has  materially  improved  l>y  the  opening  of 
a  new  railroad  in  our  immediate  vicinity.  Our  op- 
portunities for  usefulness  were  never  greater,  our 
work  never  more  inviting,  our  future  never  so  full 
of  promise.  The  review  of  the  past,  the  outlook  on 
tlie  present,  and  the  possibilities  of  larger  develop- 
ment give  the  clearest  evidences  tliat  like  the  two 
pioneers  who  in  the  'olden  time  returned  from  the 
goodly  land  beyond  the  Jordan  and  so  inspired  the 
courage  of  Joshua  and  all  Israel  with  their  report 
that  they  went  forward  to  its  proud  possession,  so 
George  Nugent  and  Charles  II.  Cunmiings  were  di- 
vinely led  in  the  measures  they  inaugurated  twenty 
years  ago,  out  of  which  have  grown  the  goodly  pos- 
session we  enjoy,  and  the  splendid  results  which 
have  become  the  annals  of  a  vigorous  and  grateful 
Church  and  the  occasions  of  glad  congratulations  on 
this  our  festal  day.  Thanks  be  to  God  for  these  and 
all  others  whose  names  are  treasured  in  the  annals 
of  this  Church,  but  with  the  myriad  host  who  gather 
round  the  throne  would  we  say,  "Blessing  and 
honor  and  glory  and  power  be  unto  Him  that  sitteth 
upon  the  throne,  and  unto  the  Lamb,  for  ever  and 
ever."  We  are  but  humble  instruments.  The  power 
which  inspires  and  renders  possible  results  is  vested 
in  the  Head  of  the  Church. 

"  One  company  above,  below, 
At  His  command  we  bow  ; 
Part  of  the  host  have  crossed  the  flood, 
And  part  are  crossing  now." 


THE  SECOND  BAPTIST  CHURCH.  49 


^ 


BY  REV.  JOHN  LOVE,  Je. 


The  poets  oft,  in  rapt  and  glowing  verse, 
The  scenes  and  beauties  of  the  earth  rehearse ; 
And  love  in  sky,  and  mount,  and  sea  to  find 
The  traces  of  an  ever-potent  mind. 
'Tis  well,  for  nobler  themes  can  ne'er  inspire; 
'Tis  well,  of  themes  so  pure  we  never  tire; 
Nature,  in  all  the  wonders  she  displays. 
Is  vocal  with  the  Great  Creator's  praise. 

But  grander  work  than  nature  we  may  see ; 

In  man  the  impress  we  behold  of  Deity. 

The  works  of  God  His  thought  and  power  reveal. 

But  man  the  beating  of  his  heart  may  feel. 

Nature  must  fade,  her  glories  must  decay, 

But  man  is  destined  to  eternal  day. 

He  lives  in  time,  that  he  may  live  on  high ; 

An  infant  here — there  his  maturity. 

The  Church  of  Jesus  hath  on  earth  been  reared 
That  God  may  be  obeyed  and  loved,  revered ; 
That  man  the  pathway  to  the  world  of  bliss 
May  learn  while  passing  through  the  cares  of  this. 
Blest  be  the  Prince  of  Peace,  our  Lord  and  King ! 
The  triumphs  of  His  grace  we  love  to  sing  ! 
But  nobler  strains  from  our  glad  lips  shall  rise       • 
When  we  have  learned  the  chorals  of  the  skies. 

A  score  of  j^ears  have  quickly  passed  away, 
In  varying  scenes,  since  the  eventful  day 
4 


50  TWENTIETH  ANNIVERSARY  OF 

When  Heaven  with  blessings  first  began  to  crown 

The  Second  Baptist  Church  of  Germantown. 

As  in  the  olden  time  was  reared  a  stone 

In  token  of  the  help  divinely  shown, 

So  we  convene  on  this  our  festal  day 

To  trace  the  guiding  hand  through  all  the  way. 

As  springs  the  spreading  vine  from  tiny  seed, 
As  mighty  streams  from  rivulets  proceed, 
Beginnings  small  to  large  proportions  grow, 
From  simple  deeds  results  surprising  flow. 
'Tis  ours  to  till  the  fallow  ground  with  care, 
'Tis  God's  to  bless  our  toils  with  harvests  rare ; 
'Tis  ours  to  speak  the  truth  His  love  reveals, 
'Tis  He  that  message  with  the  blessing  seals. 

In  numbers  few,  but  strong  and  true  in  heart, 

A  little  band  devoted  did  their  part ; 

On  Freedom's  battle-ground  their  banner  reared. 

While  hopes  of  hallowed  days  their  spirits  cheered  ; 

The  Lord  at  Emmaus  forbore  to  stay. 

But  through  the  years  we  glad  recount  to-day 

His  promise  sweet  fulfilment  findeth  here, 

"  Lo,  I  am  with  you  alway  ;  never  fear." 

What  gracious  seasons  oft  have  been  enjoyed, 
What  thankful  strains  have  glowing  lips  emjiloyed, 
As  souls  new  born  lisped  their  confessions  sweet, 
And  learned  the  dialect  for  Christians  meet! 
What  solace  here  hath  blest  the  sore  bereaved. 
What  help  the  weak  and  faltering  have  received  ! 
And  glowing  hearts  have  oft  within  them  burned, 
As  Heaven's  rich  benedictions  they  have  learned. 

To  bless  the  race  was  Christ's  divine  employ  ; 
Like  Him  to  live  the  Christian's  deepest  joy. 
What  sacred  streams  of  influence  hence  have  flown 
To  win  and  keep  disciples  for  His  own  I 


THE  SECOND  BAPTIST  CHURCH.  51 

In  scenes  remote,  as  well  as  those  more  near, 
Are  hearts  devout,  which  thankful  tributes  rear, 
That  in  this  church  beloved  the  gospel's  sound 
Fell  on  their  ears,  that  here  a  ho7ne  they  found. 

And  some  have  entered  in  that  holy  place 
Beyond  the  veil,  and  view  their  Saviour's  face; 
Though  now  their  names  are  in  the  Church  above, 
Ours  still  in  tender  memorj^  and  love. 
How  blest  the  place  where  partings  are  unknown. 
O'er  golden  day  no  shades  of  night  are  thrown, 
Sin  nevermore  disturbs,  nor  sorrows  blight ! 
There  rest  is  given  and  fulness  of  delight. 

Thrilling  the  prospects  which  such  joys  iiis})ire  ; 
Quickened  be  every  soul  with  sacred  tire ; 
While  through  the  pilgrimage  of  life  we're  led, 
Under  the  orders  of  our  Living  Head. 
Forth  to  our  work  the  Master's  ringing  call 
Into  His  vineyard  welcomed  be  by  all ; 
The  feeblest  gifts  our  gracious. Lord  can  use  ; 
What  loyal  soul  His  summons  can  refuse  ? 

May  many  more  here  find  the  "pearl  of  price," 

A  blessed  title  gain  to  Paradise  ; 

From  joyful  lips  let  raptured  praises  rise, 

Kehearsals  for  the  chorus  of  the  skies  ; 

Let  Christian  hearts  in  sweet  affection  blend, 

With  mutual  longings  let  our  prayers  ascend ; 

To  tireless  toil  our  willing  hands  be  given. 

Till  Church  on  earth  becomes  the  Church  in  heaven. 


52  TWENTIETH  ANNIVERSARY  OF 


BY  REV.  JAMES  LISK,  D.D. 


Paul  speaks  of  the  Church  as  a  family.  In  this 
beautiful  conception  he  includes  as  well  those  who 
have  crossed  over  the  river  into  the  land  of  fade- 
less bloom,  as  those  who  linger  on  this  side.  "  Of 
whom,"  he  says,  "  the  whole  family  in  heaven  and 
earth  is  named. '^  Such  conception  necessarily  sug- 
gests intimacy,  tender  friendship,  strong  attach- 
ment, and  earnest  love,  for  a  true  family  life  must 
comprehend  all  these.  And  the  great  apostle  would 
represent  that  the  Church  of  Jesus  Christ  embraces 
those  elements  and  qualities  which  characterize  a 
true  family. 

Now,  if  in  the  broad  sense  of  the  Church  Catholic 
— universal — this  is  a  fitting  characterization,  much 
more  is  it  in  the  restricted,  narrower  sense  of  the 
Church  individual  and  local.  For  mark  the  names 
of  great  and  notable  worthies  dear  to  all  Christians, 
as  Paul,  John,  Augustine,  Luther,  Knox,  Bunyan, 
Whitefield,  Judson,  and  many  more.  Indeed,  the 
list  of  holy  men  and  women  reminds  us  of  the 
apostle's  striking  words  after  his  roll-call  of  the 
illustrious   dead ;  ^^  Wherefore,  seeing  we  also  are 


THE  SECOND  BAPTIST  CHURCH.  53 

compassed  about  with  so  great  a  cloud  of  witnesses, 
let  us  lay  aside  every  weight/' 

But  each  Church  contributes  its  quota  to  the  vast 
general  aggregate,  and  the  names  of  those  added  are 
dear  to  them  who  tarry  behind.  There  are  Churches 
to-day  encompassed  by  an  atmosphere  that  seems 
charged  with  inspiration  and  magnetism,  on  account 
of  certain  of  the  Lord's  dear  ones  who  lived  and 
toiled  and  died  in  their  midst. 

Not  long  ago  I  preached  in  a  church  in  another 
city,  which  for  long  years  enjoyed  \a\q  ministrations 
of  an  eminent  man  of  God.  He  died  as  the  pastor 
of  that  Church.  A  memorial  tablet  adorns  the  wall 
beside  the  pulpit.  I  knew  the  man  only  by  reputa- 
tion and  his  biography,  which  is  one  of  the  precious 
volumes  of  my  library.  I  confess  the  sight  of  that 
tablet  aflPected  me.  I  was  impressed  and  stirred.  It 
seemed  to  say,  "  Be  sure  you  do  your  duty.  Preach 
the  Word,  be  sincere,  be  in  earnest ;  death  and  the 
judgment  are  only  a  little  way  ahead  !"  Men  of  holy 
lives  are  like  Abel,  though  dead  they  yet  speak. 

When  Robert  Bruce  lay  dying,  he  called  Douglas 
to  his  bedside,  and  told  him  tiiat  it  had  been  the 
wish  of  his  heart  to  go  to  the  Holy  Land  and  rescue 
Jerusalem  from  the  infidels.  Then  he  expressed  his 
dying  wish  that  after  his  death  his  heart  should  be 
embalmed  and  carried  to  Jerusalem,  and  laid  in 
the  Holy  Sepulchre.  Douglas  was  faithful  to  his 
charge.  He  had  his  master's  heart  embalmed,  and 
when  he  set  out  for  the  recovery  of  the  Holy  City 


54  TWEN'tlETH  ANNIVERSARY  OF 

he  wore  it  suspended  in  a  silver  casket  from  his 
neck,  and  in  his  first  encounter  with  the  infidels  he 
threw  the  casket  into  the  midst  of  their  spears,  cry- 
ing, "  Heart  of  Bruce,  I  follow  thee !"  Beloved  in 
the  Lord,  the  hearts  of  noble  and  loved  ones  that 
once  lived  among  us  and  wrought  for  Christ  and 
His  Church  have  preceded  us, — they  have  met  the 
sharp  spear  of  death,  the  last  enemy,  and  have  con- 
quered, for  they  live.  The  true  Cliristian  heart  lives 
forever.  It  cannot  die.  And  as  our  loved  Christian 
friends  have  only  gone  before,  we  follow  on  if  so  be 
we  may  attain  even  as  they. 

A  dying  wish  is  sacred.  We  are  glad  to  meet 
such  wish  to  the  extremest  of  our  ability.  If  we 
were  able  on  this  joyous  Anniversary  occasion  to 
gather  into  our  minds  the  hints,  messages,  and  earn- 
est beseechings  of  tliose  who,  once  members  of  this 
Church,  have  passed  on  to  their  rest  and  reward,  we 
should  surely  all  be  tlie  better.     For 

"  Not  many  lives  have  we, 
One,  onl}^  one; 
How  sacred  should  that  one  life  ever  bo. 
That  narrow  span !" 

Or,  if  even  the  sheer  fact  that  a  recognition  of  death 
is  had  by  a  memorial  were  allowed  its  proper  weight, 
we  should  be  moved  to  more  earnest  living;.     For 


o- 


"  Life  is  brief  and  sin  is  here  ; 

Our  a.!2:e  is  but  the  falling  of  a  leaf, 
A  dropping  tear." 


THE  SECOND  BAPTIST  CHURCH.  55 

Ever  and  anon  are  we  reminded  of  our  frailty 
and  mortality.  When  more  effectively  than  when 
we  note  the  vacant  chair  in  the  home  or  the  unoc- 
cupied seat  in  the  sanctuary?  These  speak  elo- 
quently, though  silently,  of  life's  brevity, — "  Man's 
days  are  as  grass ;  as  a  flower  of  the  field,  so  he 
flourisheth," — and  remind  us  of  the  loved  and  hon- 
ored with  whom  we  took  sweet  counsel,  and  in  whose 
company  we  walked  into  the  house  of  God.  In- 
deed, they  are  with  us  still ;  not  in  bodily  presence, 
but  in  the  holy  power  and  inspiring  influence  they 
exert  upon  our  hearts  and  lives  because  their  names 
arc  sacred  treasures  of  our  memories.  Though  dead 
tiiey  are  yet  speaking,  and  the  full  measure  of  their 
blessed  service  cannot  therefore  be  comprehended 
and  known  until  the  books  are  opened  at  the  great 
day. 

The  necrology  of  this  Church  would  indicate  an 
average  of  about  two  deaths  per  year,  or  forty  deaths 
in  the  twenty  years.  But  there  were  at  least  four 
years  of  the  twenty  during  which  no  deaths  oc- 
curred. We  may  regard  these  as  years  of  special 
grace.  A  respite  was  given  the  death  angel  by  Him 
who  holds  the  keys  of  death,  yet  only  for  a  little 
while.  He  did  not  forget  to  return.  Lonesome 
hearts  and  desolate  homes  attested  over  and  over  the 
sheer  impossibility  of  bribing  the  angel  of  death  to 
stay  away. 

It  cannot  be  expected  that  I  shall  present  a  sketch 
of  the  life  and  character  of  each  one  who  has  fallen 


56  TWENTIETH  ANNIVERSARY  OF 

on  sleep  during  these  years  past  of  this  Church's 
history.  The  time  is  too  limited,  and  it  seems  in- 
vidious to  discriminate.  Our  standard  of  measure- 
ment and  judgment  is  not  infallible.  But  surely 
all  will  recognize  the  fitness  of  a  few  words  specially 
of  such  as  were  officers  of  the  Church  and  teachers 
in  the  school. 

With  pre-eminent  appropriateness  I  may  mention 
first  the  name  of  him  we  all  loved  and  honored, 

Deacon  George  Nugent. 

The  Church  has  honored  itself  in  honoring  him, 
by  giving  place  to  and  causing  to  be  put  up  the  beau- 
tiful memorial  tablet  at  my  left.  Brother  Nugent 
was  born  May  3,  1809,  and  died  June  21,  1883. 
He  thus  lived  to  be  a  little  more  than  seventy-four 
years  of  age.  AVhen  a  young  man  twenty-three 
years  old  he  was  converted,  and  united  with  the 
Lower  Merion  Baptist  Church.  Afterwards  he  re- 
moved his  membership  to  the  Eleventh  Baptist 
Church,  Philadelphia,  then  to  the  Broad  Street 
Church,  from  which  Church  he  brought  his  letter  to 
become  a  constituent  member  of  this  Church. 

The  doctrine  which  he  heard  preached  in  those 
early  years  of  the  century  was  very  different  from 
much  that  is  heard  now.  How  often  he  has  given 
me  an  account  of  his  change  of  heart !  There  was 
real  laic  work  in  his  case,  as  indeed  with  most  of 
those  converted  under  the  preaching  of  ^^  old  Father 
Jones.''     And  how  often  he  presented  in  his  prayer- 


THE  SECOND  BAPTIST  CHURCH.  57 

meeting  talks  his  views  of  sin,  and  insisted  no  one 
would  ever  flee  to  Christ  as  a  Saviour  until  he  saw  and 
felt  that  sin  is  an  awful  tiling, — a  curse  which,  with- 
out the  atoning  blood  of  Christ  and  godly  sorrow, — 
sincere  repentance, — would  sink  the  sinner  into  ever- 
lasting woe !  His  conversion  in  early  life  and  under 
solid  Bible  doctrine  gave  him  immense  advantage. 
He  was  a  Bible  student.  He  loved  the  pure  gospel. 
Often  has  he  commended  sermons  which  were  spe- 
cially designed  to  exalt  Jesus  Christ  and  to  make 
conspicuous  His  atoning  work.  Accordingly,  he  had 
little  patience  with  froth  and  foam ;  he  wanted  the 
sincere  milk  of  the  Word  and  the  strong  meat  of 
God's  truth.  He  loved  Jesus  Christ  with  an  intelli- 
gent love.  He  loved  His  Church.  He  loved  to 
give  his  money  for  causes  that  would  bring  surest 
returns  in  the  salvation  of  souls.  This  magnificent 
house  would  not  be  here  to-day  had  not  our  brother 
opened  his  purse  most  generously  and  nobly.  But 
to  see  this  house  erected,  paid  for  and  dedicated, 
seemed  to  be  the  crowning  desire  of  his  life.  This 
Avas  done,  and  then,  after  being  permitted  to  worship 
in  it  six  mouths,  he  was  called  up  to  the  heavenly 
sanctuary. 

Thus  more  than  fifty  years  was  he  a  disciple  of 
Christ.  And  what  a  record,  oh,  friends,  he  made 
by  the  grace  of  God  !  Think  of  the  money  he  gave 
to  Churches,  to  the  Sunday-School  Union,  to  the 
American  Baptist  Publication  Society,  to  the  Baptist 
Home  (which  alone  is  a  grand  monument  to  his 


58  TWENTIETH  ANNIVERSART  OF 

benefactions  and  labors,  for  its  existence  was  due  to 
his  foresight,  energy,  and  noble  gifts) !  think  of  his 
personal  work  with  men,  his  prayers  and  consecrated 
service  for  more  than  half  a  century !  Surely  we 
may  say.  He  came  to  his  grave  in  a  full  age,  like  as 
a  sliock  of  corn. 

Mrs.  Nugent  w^as  not  a  member  of  this  Church, 
but  we  who  knew  her  all  remember  the  deep  interest 
she  felt  in  its  welfare.  In  the  early  history  of  the 
Church  one  of  the  sisters  said  to  her,  "  Mrs.  Nugent, 
we  are  to  meet  on  such  a  day  to  make  baptismal 
robes :  would  you  not  come  and  assist  us  ?'^  The 
sister  thus  speaking  spoke  pleasantly,  and  hardly 
supposed  the  invitation  woidd  be  accepted.  But  it 
was,  and  Mrs.  Nugent  aided  the  sisters  in  the  work. 

This  was  characteristic  of  her.  She  was  very 
sympathetic.  Her  feelings  were  easily  touched  by 
a  story  of  suffering,  and  she  was  ready  to  respond. 
She  seconded  heartily  her  husband's  efforts  in  doing 
good.  Almost  always  was  she  by  his  side  in  the 
seat  in  the  house  of  God  on  Sabbath  mornings,  and 
she  rejoiced  in  the  Church's  prosperity.  Left  alone 
for  a  little  over  two  years,  the  summons  came  for  her 
to  join  him  in  the  heavenly  land  with  whom  for  so 
long  she  had  travelled  in  this  world. 

In  September,  1874,  passed  away 

Deacon^  James  K.  SrEiR. 

He  was  a  true  man,  one  of  God's  noble  ones. 
His  body  v/as  too  small  aiid  frail  for  the  great  soul 


THE  SECOND  BAPTIST  CHURCH.  59 

that  resided  in  it.  Oli,  how  we  loved  him  !  How 
glad  we  were  to  hear  him  talk  in  the  conference 
meeting  !  Never  shall  I  forget  with  what  enthusi- 
asm lie  used  to  say,  "  Oh,  brethren,  when  the  Master 
calls  me  home,  I  wish  to  enter  the  pearly  gates  with 
banner  flying."  His  request  that  I  should  preach 
his  funeral  sermon  from  a  text  of  his  choice  was  in 
keeping  with  this  joyous,  happy,  sunny  side  of  his 
Christian  life, — John  xi.  40:  '^Said  I  not  unto 
thee,  that,  if  thou  wouldest  believe,  thou  shouldest 
see  the  glory  of  God  ?'' 

It  is  not  a  little  strange  that  the  last  two  pastors 
of  the  Church  should  be  bereft  of  their  companions 
with  but  little  more  than  two  years  of  time  inter- 
vening. They  were  wives  and  mothers,  and  they 
had  cares  and  responsibilities,  yet  they  were  real 
helpers  in  the  Lord.  The  sweet  and  blessed  in- 
fluences which  they  set  agoing  in  home-circle,  in 
church,  and  Sunday-school  cannot  be  known  this 
side  the  great  wiiite  throne.  "  The  memory  of  the 
just  is  blessed,"  and  the  memory  of  noble.  Christ- 
like companions  remains  a  very  benediction  on  heart 
and  life.  They  passed  on  and  up  to  the  rest  that 
remaineth  for  God's  toiling  ones  and  burden-bearers. 
To  one  of  these  the  sweet  words  of  the  devotional 
Bonar  were  very  precious, — beginning  : 

"  The  star  is  not  extinguished  when  it  sets 
Upon  the  dull  horizon  ;  it  but  goes 
To  shine  in  other  skies,  then  reappear 
In  ours,  as  fresh  as  when  it  first  arose." 


60  TWENTIETH  ANNIVERSARY  OF 

Having  spoken  of  the  decease  of  one  who  was 
not  a  member  of  the  Church,  I  may  be  permitted  to 
speak  a  kindly  word  of  another.  I  refer  to  Mrs. 
Peabody,  who,  though  not  herself  a  member,  was  the 
mother  of  four  children  who  are.  She  died  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1876.  She  had  nearly  reached  the  full  period 
of  human  life.  For  about  sixteen  years  of  her  life 
she  was  called  to  suffer.  The  discipline  was  severe 
but  refining.  She  exhibited  wonderful  patience  and 
quiet  submission  to  the  will  of  her  Lord.  She  knew 
well,  "  They  also  serve  who  only  stand  and  wait." 
And  she  did  wait.  Blessed  release  it  was  when  the 
summons  came  to  enter  the  land  where  the  inhabi- 
tant shall  never  say,  ^'  I  am  sick." 

How  well  we  remember  the  service  rendered  both 
Church  and  school  by  the  two  Williams ! — William 
B.  Hinkle,  who  departed  this  life  November  29, 
1881,  and  William  H.  Cummings,  who  peacefully 
fell  asleep  in  Jesus  July  7,  1882.  In  some  respects 
they  were  much  alike, — quiet,  undemonstrative, 
thoughtful.  Both  entered  the  kingdom  at  about 
the  same  time,  fruits  of  the  blessed  work  of  grace 
beginning  January  1,  1872.  I  remember  well  the 
determination  and  deliberation  of  William  Cum- 
mings when  the  question  of  duty  presented  itself. 
He  felt  that  he  must  not  be  hasty.  He  was  anxious 
to  avoid  the  mere  show  and  form  of  professing  alle- 
giance to  Jesus  Christ  wdiile  yet  wanting  in  real 
knowledge  and  love.  He  searched  the  Scriptures 
and  prayed.     He  knew  he  ought  to  be  a  Christian, 


THE  SECOND  BAPTIST  CHURCH.  Gl 

and  hence  he  would  be.  Thus  he  sought  the  Lord 
and  found  Him,  and  became  one  of  the  most  patient, 
persistent,  conscientious,  and  faithful  teachers  in  the 
Sunday-school.  He  often  came  to  meet  his  class 
when  real  duty  to  himself  demanded  rest.  Having 
counted  the  cost,  he  was  ready  for  service  in  the 
sphere  of  duty  at  all  seasons.  And  the  close  of  life 
with  him  was  as  the  close  of  a  calm  summer  day, 
quiet  and  peaceful. 

"  So  fades  a  summer  cloud  away  ; 

So  sinks  the  gale  when  storms  are  o'er ; 
So  gently  shuts  the  eye  of  day  ; 
So  dies  a  wave  along  the  shore." 

Brother  AVilliam  Hinkle  was  baptized  the  last 
Sunday  in  February,  1872,  just  one  month  after  the 
baptism  of  Brother  Cummings.  He  was  diffident 
and  quiet  and  retiring  in  disposition.  But  he  knew 
how  to  be  persistent  and  helpful.  He  was  ever 
willing  to  do  to  the  best  of  his  ability  both  iu  Sun- 
day-school and  as  a  member  of  the  choir.  He 
loved  the  service  of  song  in  the  house  of  the  Lord, 
and  the  Master  called  him  while  yet  in  his  young 
manhood  to  join  the  choir  of  the  heavenly  sanctuary. 

"  Blest  are  they  in  bright  array, 
That  exulting,  happy  throng, 
Kound  the  altar  night  and  day, 
Hymning  one  triumphant  song." 

Some  of  us  remember  well  our  Brother  Charles 
W.  Hesser,  who,  years  ago,  was  a  member  and 


Q2  TWENTIETH  ANNIVERSARY  OF 

worker  here.  He  was  among  the  early  helpers  in 
the  Sunday-school,  and  very  dearly  loved  the  cause 
of  his  Saviour. 

We  remember  well  our  Sister  Sallie  Rue,  who, 
with  her  sisters,  was  baptized  into  the  fellowship  of 
this  Church.  For  some  time  she  served  as  a  de- 
voted teacher  in  the  school.  Our  sister  seemed  to 
have  a  premonition  of  a  sudden  coming  of  the  mes- 
senger which  should  summon  her  to  the  'Miome 
over  there.'^ 

And  there  are  others  it  would  be  a  pleasure  to 
mention,  as  our  aged  Brother  John  Neilson,  one  of 
the  constituent  members  of  the  Church.  He  was  a 
Scotchman  by  birth,  but  a  genuine  Christian  by  the 
second  birth.  What  a  sturdy  faith  he  had  !  How 
trustingly  he  placed  his  hand  in  that  of  his  Saviour ! 
And  how  patient  and  uncomplaining  during  all  the 
years  of  iiis  weakness  and  illness  !  Thus  came  to 
his  grave  another  in  a  full  age,  like  as  a  shock  of 
corn  Cometh  in  his  season. 

And  then  Mrs.  Mary  Ann  Sibson,  Mrs.  Susan 
Gonover,  Mrs.  Maria  Reeves,  and  Susan  M.  Neilson, 
are  for  us  all  beautiful  illustrations  of  the  grace  of 
patience.  No  mortal  j:30uld  express  how  much  of 
suffering  these  passed  through.  For  long  weeks 
they  watched  and  waited  for  the  summons.  How 
blessed  the  rest  upon  which  death  permitted  them  to 
enter ! 

Our  Sister  Mary  A.  Rorer  united  with  the 
Church  in  less  than  two  months  after  it  was  consti- 


THE  SECOND  BAPTIST  CHURCH.  (53 

tuted.  She  lived  to  see  all  her  children  in  the  fold. 
She  was  quiet,  unobtrusive,  but  deeply  attached  to 
her  family  and  the  Church.  Her  bodily  strength 
was  not  equal  to  all  she  desired  of  it. 

Our  Sister  Elizabeth  Miles  fell  on  sleep  in  the 
spring  of  1879.  She  was  most  devotedly  attached 
to  the  Church.  Living  some  distance  from  the 
house  of  God,  it  would  be  quite  natural  to  be  con- 
tent at  home,  on  dark  nights  especially.  But  with  a 
lantern  to  lighten  the  way  she  would  come.  She 
was  one  of  the  most  helpful  listeners  any  pastor 
ever  had.  Just  as  the  sun's  rays  entered  her  sick- 
chamber  on  a  Sabbath  morning,  her  spirit  passed  up 
to  the  blessed  home. 

Her  husband,  though  not  a  member,  was  sure 
that  here  he  found  pardon  and  hope,  and  was  a 
faithful  Christian  friend.  Often  would  the  tears 
stream  from  his  eyes  as  he  attentively  listened  to 
the  "old,  old  story  of  Jesus  and  His  love." 

Then,  too,  mention  should  be  made  of  our  Sister 
Rebecca  Kohl.  She  lived  too  far  from  the  house  of 
God  to  be  always  present.  But  she  had  a  deep  in- 
terest in  the  prosperity  of  the  Church.  Her  heart 
was  fixed  on  the  salvation  of  her  children.  For  this 
she  prayed  and  lived. 

^  And  what  shall  I  say  more  ?  For  the  time  would 
fail  me  to  tell  of  Brother  Charles  Goodfcllow,  Brother 
Nathan  Longacre,  and  Sisters  Jennie  Barrows,  Kizzie 
Wilson,  who  left  as  her  dying  message  for  us  all  the 
terse  and  forceful  injunction,  "Don't  trifle;"  Mary 


64  TWENTIETH  ANNIVERSARY  OF 

L.  James,  Hannah  Arment,  Sal  lie  Gerheart,  who 
wished  us  to  sing  as  she  came  down  to  death's  water's 
edge,  "  Jesus,  Refuge  of  my  Soul ;"  also,  the  young, 
hopeful,  and  devoted  Annie  Maguire,  Mrs.  Sarah  A. 
AVentz,  Josephine  Holmes,  Ella  Rittenhouse,  Jennie 
Lisk,  and  Sister  Barbara  Haig.  And  these  all, 
having  obtained  a  good  report  through  faith,  received 
the  promise  of  their  Lord,  for  did  He  not  say,  "  I 
will  come  again  and  receive  you  unto  m^'self "  ?  They 
served  their  day  and  generation  and  fell  on  sleep. 
True,  some  of  them  were  young.  But  is  not  the 
Church  a  family  f  And  the  goodly  company  of  the 
redeemed  is  ever  growing  on  either  side  of  the  river. 
The  transfer  is  made  from  the  earthly  school  to 
the  heavenly  home  just  when  the  great  Lord  and 
Master  appoints.  And  when  some  loved  one  is 
called  we  stand  and  w^onder,  as  did  the  disciples 
when  Jesus  ascended.  Perhaps  under  heavy  press- 
ure of  grief  Ave  murmur  and  complain.  But  the 
dear  Lord  knows  best. 

"  His  ways  are  alwa.ys  right, 
And  love  is  o'er  them  all, 
Though  far  above  our  sight." 

Loss  to  us  who  still  linger  amid  the  noise  and 
dust  of  battle,  yet  positive  and  eternal  gain  to  them 
whom  Jesus  calls  to  be  with  Himself.  What  re- 
mains for  us,  beloved  friends,  is  to  do  our  work, 
and,  if  possible,  to  take  up  and  carry  on  to  comple- 
tion plans  only  imperfectly  consummated  by  those 


THE  SECOND   BAPTIST  CHURCH.  G5 

we  to-day  recall.  Time  is  short.  BeyoDcl  the 
smiling  and  the  weeping  we  all  shall  be  soon. 

Precious  words  of  our  Lord,  "  A  little  while  and 
ye  shall  see  me." 

^^  A  little  wliile,^^  Oh,  words  of  cheer  !  Lift  up 
your  heads,  for  your  redemption  draweth  nigh ! 
Here  and  now  the  toil,  there  and  then  the  rest. 
Here  and  now  the  battle,  there  and  then  the  full 
and  glorious  victory. 

"  I  heard  a  voice  saying  unto  me.  Write,  Blessed 
are  the  dead  who  die  in  the  Lord  from  henceforth  : 
Yea,  saith  the  Spirit,  that  they  may  rest  from  their 
labors;  and  their  works  do  follow  them." 

And  still  another  name  must  be  added  to  the  list 
of  the  departed  members  of  the  Church.  Since  our 
Anniversary  services  Thomas  U.  Walter,  a  constitu- 
ent member  of  the  Church,  for  years  its  very  efficient 
clerk  and  a  valued  and  successful  teacher  in  the 
Sabbath-school,  has  passed  away. 

During  his  relations  with  the  Church  he  was  a 
most  devoted  and  earnest  helper,  ever  ready  to  share 
whatever  burdens  were  to  be  borne,  to  make  any 
sacrifices  that  might  be  necessary,  and  to  give  liber- 
ally for  the  advancement  of  the  cause  of  the  Mas- 
ter. He  was  born  in  Philadelphia  in  1804,  and  was 
named  after  the  honored  Pev.  Thomas  Ustick,  a 
former  pastor  of  the  First  Church.  He  early  de- 
veloped a  genius  for  arciiitecture,  and  in  1830  began 
the  practice  of  that  profession.     He  was  the  arclii- 


66  TWENTIETH  ANNIVERSARY  OF 

tect  of  the  Moyamensing  Prison,  of  Girard  College, 
of  the  Extension  of  the  National  Capitol,  of  the 
east  and  west  wings  of  the  Patent  Office,  of  the 
General  Post-Office,  and  of  many  other  public  build- 
ings at  the  capital.  He  was  held  in  deserved  honor 
in  his  profession.  He  was  one  of  the  original  mem- 
bers of  the  American  Institute  of  Architects,  and 
was  at  the  time  of  his  death  its  president.  He  re- 
ceived the  degree  of  A.M.  from  Madison  University, 
that  of  Ph.D.  from  Lewisburg,  and  that  of  LL.D. 
from  Harvard. 

At  the  time  of  his  death  he  was  a  member  and 
deacon  of  the  Memorial  Church. 


THE  SECOND  JiAPTIST  CHURCH.  07 


®Hi«r$  of  l^i-  i|urrl|. 


Pastor. 
Eev.  John  Love,  Jr. 

Deacons. 
Charles  H.  Cummings. 

KiCHARD  V.  BOSWELL. 

George  C.  Stokes. 
Thomas  Randall. 
Henry  F.  Scatchard. 

Trustees. 

Charles  H.  Cummings. 
Henry  F.  Scatchard. 
David  Hey. 
Paul  W.  Katz. 
Henry  M.  Philler. 
Joseph  B.  Cope. 
Samuel  B.  Marple. 

Treasurer. 
William  Eandall. 


68  TWENTIETH  ANNIVERSARY  OF 

BIBLE-SCHOOL. 

Superintendent. 
Charles  H.  Cummings. 

Associate  Superintendent. 
William  Kandall. 

Treasurer. 
William  S.  Kohl. 

Secretary. 
Arthur  Freeston. 

Associate  Secretary. 
William  Piiiller. 

Registrar. 

Victor  Paul. 

Financial  Secretary. 
lloiJERT  Doris. 

Librarian. 
George  C.  Stokes. 

Associate  Librarians. 
Harry  Hinkle. 
P.  Bart  Hinkle. 
Charles  C.  Mininger. 
William  E.  Freeston. 
A.  G.  Stokes. 

Chorister. 
Owen  J.  W.  Burness. 


THE  SECOND  BAPTIST  CHURCH.  gQ 

INFANT   DEPARTMENT. 
Superintendent. 
Mrs.  Joseph  B.  Cope. 

Associates. 
Joseph  B.  Cope. 
Miss  Maggie  Hatg. 
Miss  Mary  White. 

Advisory  Committee. 
William  Kandall. 
h.  f.  scatchard. 
Thomas  Randall. 
George  W.  Peabody. 
W.  H.  Kester. 
Arthur  Freeston". 


OFFICERS    OF    THE    MITE    SOCIETY. 

Miss  J.  S.  Stearn,  President. 
Mrs.  Joseph  B.  Cope,  Vice-President. 
Mrs.  Crissie  K.  Peabody,  Secretary. 
Mrs.  J.  Martindell,  Treasurer. 


OFFICERS    OF    THE  CHURCH    MISSIONARY 
SOCIETY. 

Mrs,  John  Love,  Jr.,  President. 

Mrs.  H.  M.  Philler,  )    Tr-      t>      \j    4 
,^        ,^  'I   Vice-Presidents. 

Mrs.  M.  Figner,  j 

Mrs.  Joseph  B.  Cope,  Secretary. 

Miss  Ida  Paul,  Treasurer. 

Mrs.  H.  F.  Scatchard, 

Secretary  and  Treasurer  of  Dorcas  Branch. 


